The national ticket which they presented was composed indeed of an original Whig protectionist and an original Democratic free-trader; but the drift of events, as will be seen, carried both alike into the new movement for a protective system.
A review of the tariff legislation in the period between the war of 1812 and the political revolution of 1860 exhibits some sudden and extraordinary changes on the part of prominent political leaders in their relation to the question.

The inconsistency involved is however more apparent than real.

Perhaps it would be correct to say that the inconsistency was justifiable in the eyes of those who found it necessary to be inconsistent.

Mr.Webster was a persistent advocate of free-trade so long as Massachusetts was a commercial State.

But when, by the operation of laws against the enactment of which he had in vain protested, Massachusetts became a manufacturing State, Mr.Webster naturally and inevitably became a protectionist.