In 1828, neither at the dinner in Boston nor in the Senate, did he enter into any discussion of general principles or constitutional theories.

He merely said, in substance, You have chosen to make protection necessary to New England, and therefore I am now forced to vote for it.

This was the position which he continued to hold to the end of his life.

As he was called upon, year after year, to defend protection, and as New England became more and more wedded to the tariff, he elaborated his arguments on many points, but the essence of all he said afterwards is to be found in the speech of 1828.

On the constitutional point he was obliged to make a more violent change.