He was above Mr.Clay and Mr.Calhoun in intellect, below them in will: and he was soon seen cooperating with them (Mr.Clay in the lead) in the great measure condemning President Jackson." This is of course the view of a Jacksonian leader, but it is none the less full of keen analysis and comprehension of Mr.Webster, and in some respects embodies very well the conditions of the situation.

Mr.Benton naturally did not see that an alliance with Jackson was utterly impossible for Mr.Webster, whose proper course was therefore much less simple than it appeared to the Senator from Missouri.

There was in reality no common ground possible between Webster and Jackson except defence of the national integrity.

Mr.Webster was a great orator, a splendid advocate, a trained statesman and economist, a remarkable constitutional lawyer, and a man of immense dignity, not headstrong in temper and without peculiar force of will.

Jackson, on the other hand, was a rude soldier, unlettered, intractable, arbitrary, with a violent temper and a most despotic will.