The Democrats are energized by the thought of James Polk — “another Jackson” — leading the party back to its historical dominance in Washington.
To insure this outcome, they go on the offensive, first to discredit Henry Clay’s character, with attacks on his well known reputation for drinking, gambling, blasphemy, womanizing and dueling.
They then turn to undermining him across the South, focusing on three issues.
They claim his “American System” prioritizes federal authority over states’ rights, and results in high tariffs on cotton goods and increases in the national debt. Next comes the assertion that he opposes slavery, has referred to it as a “moral stain,” and may even be in league with the abolitionists. Finally, they zero in on his public statements opposing the annexation of Texas.