olicy and public sentiment."[237] He grows impatient with
Clay, indignant at the apparent success of Adams, and vituperative
over the tactics of Calhoun. "Clay ought to resign forthwith," he
writes on the 17th of April, 1824; "his chance is worse than nothing.
Jackson would then prevail with all the Western States, if we can get
New Jersey."[238] Four days later he was sure of New Jersey. "We can
get her," he assures Post, on April 21. "I see no terrors in Adams'
papers; his influence has gone with his morals."[239]

[Footnote 237: DeWitt Clinton's Letters to Henry Post, in _Harper's
Magazine_, Vol. 50, p. 568.]

[Footnote 238: _Ibid._, p. 568.]

[Footnote 239: _Ibid._, p. 569.]

But by midsummer Clinton had become alarmed at the action of the
candidate from South Carolina. "Calhoun is acting a treacherous part
to Jackson," he says, under date of July 23, "and is doing all he can
for Adams. Perhaps there is not a man in the United States more
hollow-headed and base. I have long observed his manoeuvres."[240] A
week later Clinton speaks of Calhoun as "a thorough-paced political
blackleg."[241] In August he gives Adams another slap. "The great
danger is that there will be a quarrel between the friends of Jackson
and Adams, and that in the war between the lion and the unicorn the
cur may slip in and carry off the prize."[242]

[Footnote 240: _Ibid._, p. 569.]

[Footnote 241: _Ibid._, p. 569.]

[Footnote 242: _Ibid._, p. 569.

"Clinton's presidential aspirations made him a very censorious judge
of all who did not sympathise with them. The four competing
candidates, Crawford, Clay, Calhoun, and Adams, could hardly be
paralleled, Clinton being judge, by an equal number of the twelve
Caesars of Suetonius. Crawford is 'as hardened a ruffian as Burr';
Calhoun is 'treacherous', and 'a thorough-paced political blackleg.'
Adams 'in politics was an apostate, and in private life a pedagogue,
and everything but amiable and honest', while his father, the
ex-President, was 'a scamp.' Governor Yates is 'perfidious and weak.'
Henry Wheaton's 'conduct is shamefully disgraceful, and he might be
lashed naked round the world.' Chief Justice Ambrose Spencer is
classed as a minus quantity, and his son John C., 'the political
millstone of the West.' Peter B. Porter 'wears a mask.' Woodworth 'is
a weak man, with sinister purposes.' Root is 'a bad man.' Samuel Young
'is unpopular and suspicions are entertained of his integrity.' Van
Bur