hurt nobody but its friends."

For the first time in eight years the country witnessed a real
presidential contest. The campaign, none the less, was one in which
the candidates themselves took but little active part. The days of
"swinging around the circle" had not yet dawned in our national
politics, nor had even those of the "front-porch" campaign. Adams made
no effort either to be nominated or to be elected, retaining
throughout the contest that austere reserve in public manner which
contrasted so singularly with his amiability and good humor in private
life. Jackson remained quietly at the Hermitage, replying to
correspondents and acknowledging expressions of support, but leaving
to his managers the work of winning the voters. Clay, whose oratorical
gifts would have made him an invincible twentieth century campaigner,
contented himself with a few interviews and speeches. The candidate
who normally would have taken most active personal part in the
campaign was Crawford. But in August, 1823--six months before the
caucus nomination--he was stricken with paralysis and rendered
speechless, almost blind, and practically helpless. For months he
hovered between life and death in a "mansion" on the outskirts of
Washington, while his friends labored to conceal the seriousness of
his condition and to keep his canvass going. Gradually he rallied; but
his powerful frame was shattered, and even when the caucus discharged
its appointed task of nominating him, the politicians were
cold-heartedly speculating upon who would receive the "old republican"
support if he should die. He recovered and lived ten years; but his
chances of the presidency were much diminished by his ill fortune. "He
had fallen with his face toward the goal, with his eyes and his heart
fixed upon it."

As the canvass progressed, Jackson steadily gained. His election to
the United States Senate, in the autumn of 1823, over a stanch
supporter of Crawford showed that his own State was acting in good
faith when it proposed him for the higher position. Clever propaganda
turned Pennsylvania "Jackson mad"; whereupon Calhoun, with an eye to
the future, sought an alliance with his competitor. The upshot was
that a convention held at Harrisburg in March, 1824, nominated Jackson
almost unanimously and named Calhoun for the vice presidency.
Hostility to the caucus became also a great asset. Tariff, internal
improvements, and foreign policy were discussed in the campaign,