Jackson, had studied him well, and knew him well.  He knew also the temper of the Democratic party:  through his agency the political morality of New York politicians had permeated the Democracy from one end of the country to the other:  the doctrine subsequently enunciated by Mr. Marcy, that “to the victors belonged the spoils,” was in full operation throughout the nation as the Democratic practice.  This was the cement which closely held the politician to party fealty.  Jackson rewarded his friends, and punished his enemies; Jackson was an omnipotent power; Jackson was the Democratic party.  To secure his friendship was necessary to success; to incur his enmity, certain destruction.  Van Buren was as artful as ambitious:  he had indoctrinated Jackson with his own policy, by inducing him to believe it was his own; and the frankness of Jackson’s nature prevented his believing anything was not what it professed to be.  It was the ambition of Van Buren to be President, and his sagacity taught him the surest means to effect this end was to secure effectually and beyond peradventure the friendship and support of Jackson.  Mr. Calhoun was between him and the aim of his ambition:  to thrust him from Jackson’s confidence was to effect all he desired.  This was done; the breach was irreparable.  Van Buren was sent, in the interim of the session of Congress, minister plenipotentiary to the Court of St. James.

Mr. Clay had come back into the Senate, and was heading and leading an opposition, then in the majority in the Senate; and the nomination of Van Buren was rejected.  Jackson, assured that Calhoun had deceived him, was bitter in his denunciations of him, and Calhoun was sympathizing with this opposition.  Jackson denounced Calhoun as his informant of Crawford being the Cabinet minister who had in Cabinet council moved his arrest.  Calhoun gave the lie direct to the assertion; and that Jackson was capable of lying, referred as evidence to his statements relative to the charge of bargain and intrigue against Mr. Clay.  But enough had been done to crush out the popularity and the hopes of Calhoun, beyond the limits of South Carolina.  There never has been so sudden and so terrible a fall from such a height of any man in this nation—­not excepting that of Aaron Burr.  John C. Calhoun, in talent, learning, and statesmanship, was greatly superior to Jackson, and unsurpassed by any man of the age.  But the breath of Jackson was the blight which withered his laurels, and crushed his prospects, and destroyed his usefulness forever, in a night.

What consequences have grown out of this quarrel, I leave for the pen of the historian.  Yet I cannot forbear the speculation that the late and most disastrous war was one, and of consequence the ruin and desolation of the South, and the threatened destruction of the Government at this time.  The agitation which led to these terrible consequences, commenced with Mr. Calhoun immediately subsequent to these events.