instructions to Barton--Diplomatic relations broken--“Oil or water?”--Livingston advises moderate tone for Message--The Message--Public indignation over failure of Fortifications Bill--Blair fans the flame--Approach of French squadron--Webster defends Senate and attacks House--Adams and Webster--Adams’s spectacular reply--Democrats follow Adams’s lead--English offer of mediation--Terms of acceptance--France recedes--Jackson’s triumph--Effect on America’s prestige in world. XV. THE BATTLE OF THE SUCCESSION 423 Van Buren the heir apparent--Senator White’s disaffection--Whig plan to use him--Clay’s plan of campaign--Whig sneers at Mrs. White--Blair’s rebuke--The schism of Tennessee Democrats--Polk leads for Van Buren--White wins--Portrait of White--Kitchen Cabinet’s attack on him--Also determines to retire Bell from Speakership--“Globe’s” attacks on latter--Baltimore Convention--New York and Virginia combination broken--Van Buren’s reconciliation visit to Castle Hill--Whig confusion--Clay sulks--His complaint--Slavery question in campaign--Attempts to turn slave States against Van Buren--Davy Crockett’s biography of Van Buren--Holland’s--Adams’s comment--Van Buren’s serenity--Congress convenes--Bell defeated--Van Buren’s toothache--Whig fight on Taney--Whig Senators harassed by instructions from home--The embarrassment of Virginia Whigs--Ritchie’s mirth--Calhoun’s fight against abolition literature in mail--Purpose to embarrass Van Buren--Latter’s friends “play politics”--Calhoun’s extreme bill--Its partisan motive--Tie votes--Van Buren does not dodge--Calhoun’s bitter reference to Jackson--White’s bitter attack--Calhoun’s insult to Van Buren--Congress adjourns--Issues of 1836--Adams’s contempt for all the candidates--Enthusiasm for Jackson continues--Whig depression--Newspaper battles--Clay’s sulking--His one speech--Jackson’s electioneering--White’s campaign speech--Results of election--Their significance. XVI. TWILIGHT TRIUMPHS 457 Jackson’s illness--Whigs attack him while down--He fights back--House Whigs’ last effort against Whitney--Jacksonians turn the tables--Threats of murder--Peyton and Wise--Benton plans to expunge--His speech--Bitter replies--The conference at Boulanger’s--Refreshments in Benton’s committee room--Clay’s theatrical speech--Scenes in Senate Chamber--Webster’s protest--Benton wins--Dramatic situation--The mob in the gallery--Benton’s friends arm--Mrs. Benton’s alarm--The Clay-Benton altercation--Jackson dines his friends--Last days in White House--His Farewell Address--Its real significance--His last reception--Jackson the Man--White House memories and women--The inauguration of Van Buren--Jackson the central figure--Homage of the multitude--Last night in the White House--The last conference at Blair’s--The end of the “Reign.” BOOKS, PAPERS, AND MANUSCRIPTS CITED AND CONSULTED 481