He was an honest man and a statesman. He refused to give offices
to his friends just because they were his friends, and he refused
to turn men out of office simply because they did not agree with
him in politics. He wanted to do what was right and just. But he
did it from a cold sense of duty. So no one liked him very much.
Both House and Senate were against him, and he was not able to do
all he would have done for his country.
Adams wanted to do a great deal towards improving the country.
He wanted canals to be cut. And as the steam engine had just been
discovered, he was eager to have railroads and bridges. But Congress
would not help him.
Still, much was done in this direction. Several canals were cut;
railroads began to be built, and the rivers were covered with
steamboats.
Manufacturers also began to flourish. For during the 1812 war
it had been very difficult to get manufactured goods from foreign
countries. So Americans had begun to make these things for themselves.
And after the war was over, they went on manufacturing them. At length
people began to be proud of using only American made things. And
when Adams was inaugurated everything he wore had been manufactured
in the States.
The factories were for the most part in the North, and soon the
Northerners began to clamour for duties on imported goods.
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