They showed little self-control, little willingness to wait with patience until it was possible to remedy any of the real or fancied wrongs of which they complained.

They made no allowance for the difficulties so plentifully strewn in the path of the Federal authorities.

They clamored for prompt and effective action, and yet clamored just as loudly against the men who sought to create a national executive with power to take this prompt and effective action.
They demanded that the United States wrest from the British the Lake Posts, and from the Spaniards the navigation of the Mississippi.

Yet they seemed incapable of understanding that if they separated from the Union they would thereby forfeit all chance of achieving the very purposes they had in view, because they would then certainly be at the mercy of Britain, and probably, at least for some time, at the mercy of Spain also.

They opposed giving the United States the necessary civil and military power, although it was only by the possession and exercise of such power that it would be possible to secure for the westerners what they wished.