REFORM AND DEMOCRACY 75 



by these various occurrences had an influence 

 in making futile the efforts to agree concern 

 ing the slave-trade cannot be doubted; yet 

 the difference as to the right of search on the 

 high seas was the vital cause of failure. 



The growth and self-consciousness of the 

 slaveholding interest in the United States had 

 a close relation to other phases of the develop 

 ment of the American democracy. I have said 

 above that in the Jacksonian era there was a 

 narrowing of the interval which separated the 

 American from the British ideals of social struc 

 ture and policy. In Great Britain the trend 

 was steadily, as has been noted, toward removal 

 of the restrictions that sustained established in 

 terests and privileges. In the United States, 

 on the other hand, a pronounced movement 

 appeared toward the creation of similar restric 

 tions. The powers of the general government 

 had already been devoted, through diplomacy 

 and legislation, to vigorous efforts for the pro 

 tection and promotion of foreign trade and the 

 mercantile marine. During the twenties a sys 

 tematic agitation was begun for a like degree of 

 governmental activity in behalf of the nascent 

 manufactures of the Union. Henry Clay, a 

 statesman of extraordinary popularity, led this 



