At that time party lines were not distinctly drawn.  The old Federalists had lost their prestige and power.  The Republicans were in a great majority; even John Quincy Adams and his friends swelled their ranks Jefferson had lost much of his interest in politics, and was cultivating his estates and building up the University of Virginia.  Madison was anticipating the pleasures of private life, and Monroe, a plain, noncommittal man, the last of “the Virginia dynasty,” thought only of following the footsteps of his illustrious predecessors, and living in peace with all men.

The next important movement in Congress was in reference to the charter of the newly proposed second United States Bank, and in this the great influence of Clay was felt.  He was in favor of it, as a necessity, in view of the miserable state of the finances, the suspension of specie payments, and the multiplication of State banks.  In the earlier part of his career, in 1811, he had opposed a recharter of Hamilton’s National Bank as a dangerous money-corporation, and withal unconstitutional on the ground that the general government had no power to charter companies.  All this was in accordance with Western democracy, ever jealous of the money-power, and the theorizing proclivities of Jefferson, who pretended to hate everything which was supported in the old country.  But with advancing light and the experience of depreciated currency from the multiplication of State banks, Clay had changed his views, exposing himself to the charge of inconsistency; which, however, he met with engaging candor, claiming rather credit for his ability and willingness to see the change of public needs.  He now therefore supported the bill of Calhoun, which created a national bank with a capital of thirty-five million dollars, substantially such as was proposed by Hamilton.  The charter was finally given in April, 1816, to run for twenty years.

Doubtless such a great money-corporation—­great for those times—­did wield a political influence, and it might have been better if the Bank had been chartered with a smaller capital.  It would have created fewer enemies, and might have escaped the future wrath of General Jackson.  Webster at first opposed the bill of Calhoun; but when it was afterwards seen that the Bank as created as an advantage to the country, he became one of its strongest supporters.  Webster was strongly conservative by nature; but when anything was established, like Lord Thurlow he ceased all opposition, especially if it worked well.

In 1816 James Monroe was elected President, and Clay expected to be made Secretary of State, as a step to the presidency, which he now ardently desired.  But he was disappointed, John Quincy Adams being chosen by Monroe as Secretary of State.  Monroe offered to Clay the mission to England and the Department of War, both of which he declined, preferring the speakership, to which he was almost unanimously re-elected.  Here Clay brought his influence to bear, in opposition to the views of the administration, to promote internal improvements to which some objected on constitutional grounds, but which he defended both as a statesman and a Western man.  The result was a debate, ending in a resolution “that Congress has power under the Constitution to appropriate money for the construction of post roads, military and other roads, and of canals for the improvement of water-courses.”