However, if war had been declared, then Dale was instructed to "protect American ships and citizens against potential aggression"; however, Jefferson made it clear that he was "unauthorized by the constitution, without the sanction of Congress, to go beyond the line of defense."
https://www.lewrockwell.com/2005/07/thomas-woods/presidential-dictatorship-in-war/Edited by El-ahrairah at 15:24:42 on 03/17/25