A majority of those who composed that convention had inherited their political creed from the Whig party, and were profound believers in the protective teachings of Mr.Clay.

But a strong minority came from the radical school of Democrats, and, in joining the Republican party on the anti-slavery issue, had retained their ancient creed on financial and industrial questions.
Care was for that reason necessary in the introduction of new issues and the imposition of new tests of party fellowship.

The convention therefore avoided the use of the word "protection," and was contented with the moderate declaration that "sound policy requires such an adjustment of imposts as will encourage the development of the industrial interests of the whole country." A more emphatic declaration might have provoked resistance from a minority of the convention, and the friends of protection acted wisely in accepting what was offered with unanimity, rather than continue the struggle for a stronger creed which would have been morally weakened by party division.

They saw also that the mere form of expression was not important, so long as the convention was unanimous on what theologians term the "substance of doctrine." It was noted that the vast crowd which attended the convention cheered the tariff resolution as lustily as that which opposed the spread of slavery into free territory.

From that hour the Republican party gravitated steadily and rapidly into the position of avowed advocacy of the doctrine of protection.