Era of Experimentation by Daniel Peart

Author:Daniel Peart [Peart, Daniel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780813935607
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: University of Virginia Press
Published: 2014-05-05T00:00:00+00:00

While Republicans rejoiced in “the great depression of the Federal party” following the War of 1812, the more prescient among them also recognized that their triumph would “relax the bonds by which the Republican party has been hitherto kept together.”3 Respect for James Monroe ensured that his reelection in 1820 was effectively unopposed, but five main contenders emerged from the Republican ranks to challenge for the presidency at the end of his second term.

William H. Crawford displayed no hesitation in staking a claim to the White House based primarily on his devotion to party. The supporters of the secretary of the treasury styled him as “the Republican candidate,” ready to repel any threat from a resurgent Federalism.4 They maintained that he had “established a peculiar claim to the esteem of the republican party” by declining to challenge Monroe for the nomination when urged by many to do so in 1816.5 Their confidence had merit, for friends and enemies alike conceded that “Crawford is the favorite of a majority of Congress,” and custom dictated that the Republican members of that body would choose the party’s official candidate.6 “He intends to rest on a single ground,” recorded Calhoun, “that of being a thorough partisan.”7

In contrast, the candidacy of John Quincy Adams much more closely approximated the conventional republican model, at least on the surface.8 The secretary of state was the most eligible aspirant when measured by public character and length of service, but he was also a former Federalist, and his allies alleged that “the attempt to revive the distinctions and animosities of party… has been got up only as a counterpoise to the superior qualifications and pretensions of John Quincy Adams.”9 To his private journal the candidate confided, “Upon the foundation of public service alone must I stand; and when the nation shall be called to judge of that, by the result, whatever it may be, I must abide.”10 Adams was certainly fluent in the language of republicanism, but his flowery words did not always accord with his conduct during the canvass.

Junior to their rivals in age and experience, neither Secretary of War John C. Calhoun nor Speaker of the House Henry Clay could expect to succeed on a past record of party loyalty or public service alone. Instead, each chose to construct his campaign around the promise of future policies. Clay was acclaimed as the architect of the “American System,” a scheme that included a protective tariff for domestic industry, federal aid for internal improvements, and a national banking system. Likewise, Calhoun was an enthusiastic supporter of a strong central government, epitomized by his call for Congress to “bind the Republic together, with a perfect system of roads and canals. Let us conquer space.”11 Advocates of both men argued that these measures were “of the last importance to the welfare and prosperity of our country, and the[ir] successful and vigorous prosecution … must depend upon the elevation of a statesman who is identified with them.”12

The final contender for the presidency was Andrew Jackson.

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