=Clay and Calhoun.=—­While events were moving swiftly and rumors were flying thick and fast, the mastery of the government passed from the uncertain hands of Madison to a party of ardent young men in Congress, dubbed “Young Republicans,” under the leadership of two members destined to be mighty figures in American history:  Henry Clay of Kentucky and John C. Calhoun of South Carolina.  The former contended, in a flair of folly, that “the militia of Kentucky alone are competent to place Montreal and Upper Canada at your feet.”  The latter with a light heart spoke of conquering Canada in a four weeks’ campaign.  “It must not be inferred,” says Channing, “that in advocating conquest, the Westerners were actuated merely by desire for land; they welcomed war because they thought it would be the easiest way to abate Indian troubles.  The savages were supported by the fur-trading interests that centred at Quebec and London....  The Southerners on their part wished for Florida and they thought that the conquest of Canada would obviate some Northern opposition to this acquisition of slave territory.”  While Clay and Calhoun, spokesmen of the West and South, were not unmindful of what Napoleon had done to American commerce, they knew that their followers still remembered with deep gratitude the aid of the French in the war for independence and that the embers of the old hatred for George III, still on the throne, could be readily blown into flame.

=Madison Accepts War as Inevitable.=—­The conduct of the British ministers with whom Madison had to deal did little to encourage him in adhering to the policy of “watchful waiting.”  One of them, a high Tory, believed that all Americans were alike “except that a few are less knaves than others” and his methods were colored by his belief.  On the recall of this minister the British government selected another no less high and mighty in his principles and opinions.  So Madison became thoroughly discouraged about the outcome of pacific measures.  When the pressure from Congress upon him became too heavy, he gave way, signing on June 18, 1812, the declaration of war on Great Britain.  In proclaiming hostilities, the administration set forth the causes which justified the declaration; namely, the British had been encouraging the Indians to attack American citizens on the frontier; they had ruined American trade by blockades; they had insulted the American flag by stopping and searching our ships; they had illegally seized American sailors and driven them into the British navy.

=The Course of the War.=—­The war lasted for nearly three years without bringing victory to either side.  The surrender of Detroit by General Hull to the British and the failure of the American invasion of Canada were offset by Perry’s victory on Lake Erie and a decisive blow administered to British designs for an invasion of New York by way of Plattsburgh.  The triumph of Jackson at New Orleans helped to atone for the humiliation suffered in the burning of the