sort of inconsistency which
is culpable. It is the inconsistency between a man's conviction and
his vote; between his conscience and his conduct. No man shall ever
charge me with an inconsistency like that. And now, Sir, allow me
to say, that I am quite indifferent, or rather thankful, to those
conductors of the public press who think they cannot do better than
now and then to spread my poor opinions before the public.

"I have said many times, and it is true, that, up to the year 1824,
the people of that part of the country to which I belong, being
addicted to commerce, having been successful in commerce, their
capital being very much engaged in commerce, were averse to
entering upon a system of manufacturing operations. Every member in
Congress from the State of Massachusetts, with the exception, I
think, of one, voted against the act of 1824. But what were we to
do? Were we not bound, after 1817 and 1824, to consider that the
policy of the country was settled, had become settled, as a policy,
to protect the domestic industry of the country by solemn laws? The
leading speech[11] which ushered in the act of 1824 was called a
speech for the 'American System.' The bill was carried principally
by the Middle States. Pennsylvania and New York would have it so;
and what were we to do? Were we to stand aloof from the occupations
which others were pursuing around us? Were we to pick clean teeth
on a constitutional doubt which a majority in the councils of the
nation had overruled? No, Sir; we had no option. All that was left
us was to fall in with the settled policy of the country; because,
if any thing can ever settle the policy of the country, or if any
thing can ever settle the practical construction of the
Constitution of the country, it must be these repeated decisions of
Congress, and enactments of successive laws conformable to these
decisions. New England, then, did fall in. She went into
manufacturing operations, not from original choice, but from the
necessity of the circumstances in which the legislation of the
country had placed her. And, for one, I resolved then, and have
acted upon the resolution ever since, that, having compelled the
Eastern States to go into these pursuits for a livelihood, the
country was bound to fulfil the just expectat