Andrew Jackson on John Quincy Adams, by Ari Sclar

Mr Adams is the Constitutional President and as such I would myself be the last man in the Commonwealth to oppose him upon any other ground than that of principle…As to his character also, it is hardly necessary for me to observe, that I had esteemed him as a virtuous, able and honest man; and when rumour was stamping the sudden union of his and the friends of Mr Clay with intrigue, barter and bargain I did not, nay, I could not believe that Mr Adams participated in a management deserving such epithets…But when these strange rumours became facts, when the predicted stipulation was promptly fulfilled, and Mr Clay was Secretary of State, the inferrence was irresistible—I could not doubt the facts. It was well known that during the canvass Mr Clay had denounced him as an apostate, as one of the most dangerous men in the union, and the last man in it that ought to be brought into the executive chair.

- Andrew Jackson to Henry Lee, October 1825

1. What provisions of the Constitution lead Jackson to refer to Adams as a “Constitutional President”? What other presidential election also relied on specific provisions of the Constitution?

2. What political ‘principle’ [issue] is Jackson referring to that he “opposes” Adams on (give one example)?

3.

What do Clay’s actions in the passage indicate about the development of American politics between 1800-1825?