Administration controlled the Senate as well as the House of
Representatives--balked at no act that would humiliate the President
and make capital for its western idol. At the outset the Jacksonians
tried to hold up the confirmation of Clay. It fell furiously, and
quite without discrimination, upon the President's great scheme of
national improvements, professing to see in it evidence of an
insatiable desire for "concentration." In the discussion of a proposed
amendment to the Constitution providing for direct election of the
President by the people it was constantly assumed and frequently
stated that Adams had no moral right to the position which he
occupied. The President's decision to send delegates to the Panama
Congress of 1826 raised a storm of acrimonious debate and brought the
Administration's enemies into closer unison. To cap the climax, Adams
was solemnly charged with abuse of the federal patronage, and in the
Senate six bills for the remedy of the President's pernicious
practices were brought in by Benton in a single batch! Adams was able
and honest, but he got no credit from his opponents for these
qualities. He, in turn, displayed little magnanimity; and in refusing
to shape his policies and methods to meet the conditions under which
he had to work, he fell short of the highest statesmanship.

As election year approached, it became clear that the people would at
last have an opportunity to make a direct choice between Adams and
Jackson. Each candidate was formally nominated by sundry legislatures
and other bodies; no one so much as suggested nomination by
congressional caucus. In the early months of 1828 the campaign rapidly
rose to an extraordinary level of vigor and public interest. Each
party group became bitter and personal in its attacks upon the other;
in our entire political history there have been not more than two or
three campaigns so smirched with vituperation and abuse. The Jackson