His prejudices obscured his reason.
It was well known that the President felt much cast down by the result.

He had, as is usual with Presidents, been surrounded by flatterers, and had not been advised of the actual state of public opinion.

Political deserters, place-seekers and personal sycophants had constantly assured the President that his cause was strong and his strength irresistible.

They had discovered that one of his especial weaknesses was an ambition to be considered as firm and heroic in his Administration as General Jackson had proved in the Executive chair thirty years before.

He received, therefore, with evident welcome the constant adulation of a comparison between his qualities and those of General Jackson, and he came to fancy that he would prove, in his contest for the unconditional re-admission of Southern States to representation, as mighty a power in the land as Jackson had proved in his struggle with the Bank monopolists and with the Disunionists of South Carolina.