Note 167 — Chapter XVIII · CLINTON AND THE PRESIDENCY 1812

"No canvass for the Presidency was ever less creditable than that of DeWitt Clinton in 1812. Seeking war votes for the reason that he favoured more vigorous prosecution of the war; asking support from peace Republicans because Madison had plunged the country into war without preparation; bargaining for Federalist votes as the price of bringing about a peace; or coquetting with all parties in the atmosphere of bribery in bank charters—Clinton strove to make up a majority which had no element of union but himself and money."—Henry Adams, History of the United States, Vol. 6, p. 410.