Neither were they restrained by the President's proclamation.

The Constitution assigned the duty of negotiating and ratifying treaties to the President and Senate; but to the perfervid Anti-Britishers the Constitution was no more than an old cobweb to be brushed away at pleasure.

The Jay Treaty could not be put into effect without money for expenses; all bills involving money must pass the House of Representatives; therefore, the House would actually control the operation of the Treaty.
The House at this time was Republican by a marked majority.

In March, 1796, the President laid the matter before the House.

In a twinkling the floodgates of speechifying burst open; the debates touched every aspect of the question.