The United States will steadily observe the maxims by which they have hitherto been governed." The reply to this patriotic sentiment was unanimously agreed to, and was most grateful to Adams, who thanked the House for it as "consonant to the characters of representatives of a great and free people." On December 27 a peculiar resolution was introduced to punish the usurpation of the executive authority of the government of the United States in carrying on correspondence with the government of any foreign prince or state.

Gallatin thought this resolution covered too much ground.

The criminality of such acts did not lie in their being usurpations, but in the nature of the crime committed.

There was no authority in the Constitution for a grant of such a power to the President.

To afford aid and comfort to the enemy was treason, but there was no war, and therefore no enemy.