“The Senate have rejected the nomination of Alexander Wolcott to the bench of the Supreme Court, twenty-four to nine. The President is said to have felt great mortification at this result. The truth seems to be that he is President _de jure_ only. Who exercises the office _de facto_ I know not, but it seems agreed on all hands that ‘there is something behind the throne greater than the throne itself.’” February 21 the President nominated J. Q. Adams, then absent as minister at St. Petersburg, to the same place, and the Senate unanimously confirmed the appointment. The rejection of Wolcott had no meaning further than showing the opinion held by the Republican party of their President’s judgment. “Our Cabinet presents a novel spectacle in the world;” continued Randolph. “Divided against itself, and the most deadly animosity raging between its principal members,--what can come of it but confusion, mischief, and ruin? Macon is quite out of heart.” Gallatin was also out of heart. The conduct of Duane and his “Aurora” put additional venom into the wounds made by the session. Commonly some foundation of truth or probability lay beneath political attacks; some show of evidence or some responsible voucher was alleged if not produced, and the charges against public men, to be accepted, were shaped to suit the known character and habits of the victims; but this was not the case with Duane’s assertions of Gallatin’s wealth, speculations, embezzlements, and secret intrigues. Duane assumed the truth of his own inventions, and although few persons might be so credulous as to believe him, many were so far influenced as to draw aside and leave Gallatin and the Smiths to fight out their battles as they liked. This withdrawal of active support chiefly weakened the Administration. President Madison had no hold over his friends so long as he refused to declare whom he regarded as friends. He lost not only the Smiths, but also Gallatin, by standing aloof. “Things as they are cannot go on much longer,” wrote Randolph, February 17. “The Adminstration are now in fact aground at the pitch of high tide, and a spring tide too. Nothing then remains but to lighten the ship, which a dead calm has hitherto kept from going to pieces. If the cabal succeed in their present projects, and I see nothing but promptitude and decision that can prevent it, the nation is undone.”