Clay Supports Crawford

While reading up on the Presidential Election of 1824, I found out that for a time Henry Clay thought about throwing support to William H. Crawford. Does anyone know what would happen if he does? Would Crawford even win? If he does I’d imagine he’d have a rough go of it in office because he’d be hated not only by Jackson but by Adams which would make it pretty hard to get things done.
 
No one is anywhere near a majority, so unless several states change on later ballots, VP-elect Calhoun will be sworn in on March 4.
 
IIRC, all four candidates of the election of 1824 - 5 candidates if you include Calhoun - were all incredibly antagonistic towards each other. I mean Jackson was the obvious outcast given Florida in 1819, given that Crawford,, Calhoun and even Clay attacked him for his actions there - Yet it is still documented that Adams defended Jackson action and MANIFEST DESTINY. Calhoun will not support Crawford because Van Buren supports him. Adams thinks Calhoun is dangerous, but likes him because he is some sort of intellectual equal (either from Traub's John Quincy Adams or from William J Cooper's The Lost FOunding Father). Caly and Admas have not liked each other since the Treaty of Ghent where they really rubbed each other the wrong way.

Jackson at least had some form of personal respect for Adams up to 1824, but he really hated Clay and Crawford. Well, hated might be too small a word. LOATHED may be better.

The idea of Clay supporting Crawford is strange to me though. By 1824 Crawford was pretty much diehard States Rights, moreso than Calhoun at this time, and is totally antithesis to Clay in that regards who is completely for internal improvements and strengthening the Federal Government/United States.

Some sort of peaceful-detent between Adams and Jackson may be interesting to see as a result of this.....


I thin that @David T needs to have some input
 
Some sort of peaceful-detent between Adams and Jackson may be interesting to see as a result of this.....

If this led to a deadlock in the HoR, perhaps with Adams getting ten states, Jackson and Crawford seven each, might *Jackson* throw his support to Adams, beome his Sec of State, and cause *Clay* to squeal "corrupt bargain"?


I thin that @David T needs to have some input

Inclined to agree.
 
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