Cabinet reorganization--Duane becomes Secretary of Treasury--His reputation and party standing--Jackson’s New England tour--Plans removal of deposits--Consults Hamilton in New York--Conversion of Van Buren--The Bank’s cockiness over accession of Nullifiers--Blair makes the most of the coalition--Kendall’s reasons for immediate action--Conservatives of Cabinet alarmed--Kendall attempts to convince McLane--Van Buren rebuked by Kendall--Jackson polls the Cabinet--Kitchen Cabinet’s continuous sessions--Debate on the time for removal--Kitchen Cabinet favors recess action--Conservatives would postpone until Congress meets--Duane’s strange reticence--Jackson presses him for decision--Kendall’s mission--His experiences with politicians en route--Newspapers open fight--Jackson perfects his plans at Rip Raps--Van Buren hard pressed--Taney moves to Jackson’s side--Jackson’s Paper to the Cabinet--McLane and Cass threaten to resign--Benton’s delight--Duane’s many letters of protest--Is dismissed--Taney assumes command--Webster advises a “disciplining” of the people--The Bank plans a panic--Its methods and results--Clay advises distress meetings and petitions--Political purpose--Jackson and distress committees--Reaction against Bank--New leaders--Benton--Preston--Leigh. XII. THE BATTLE OF THE GODS 322 Bitter battle in Congress--Clay leads onslaught--Calls for Paper read to Cabinet--Forsyth kills the effect--Senate rejects Government directors on Biddle’s demand--Webster reminds Biddle of his retainer--Attempt to exclude Lewis from Senate--Webster appeals to Story for opinion--Latter’s reply--Clay appeals to Tazewell--Is rebuked--Intense interest in congressional battle--Distress oratory--Forsyth’s cynicism--Jacksonians counter with memorials--Whig mob-baiters sent to country to continue the excitement--Clay’s censure resolution--His bitter speech--Speeches of Preston, Benton, Calhoun, Forsyth, and Webster--Clay’s motive--Webster’s disgust over Clay’s plan--Proposes compromise recharter plan--His speech--Calhoun presents another--Bank champions divided--Clay’s fury over Webster’s independent action--Forces Webster to kill his own bill--Forsyth makes the record clear--Clay’s attempt to involve Van Buren--His histrionic appeal--Van Buren makes it ridiculous--Censure passed--Jackson’s spirited Protest--Effect on masses--Reception in Senate--Forsyth’s clever move to pass the issue to the people--Protest rejected--Battle in the House--Adams’s activities--Horace Binney--The debate--Blair’s attack on Judge Hopkinson--Bank investigation ordered--Farcical nature--Clay’s resolution orders restoration of deposits--Debate--Senate rejects nominations of Stevenson and Taney. XIII. POLITICAL HYDROPHOBIA 354