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"_It is the true policy of government to suffer the different
pursuits of society to take their own course, and not to give
excessive bounties or encouragements to one over another. This,
also, is the true spirit of the Constitution. It has not, in my
opinion, conferred on the government the power of changing the
occupations of the people of different States and sections, and of
forcing them into other employments._ It cannot prohibit commerce
any more than agriculture, nor manufactures any more than commerce.
It owes protection to all."
The sentences in italics constitute a pretty strong and explicit statement
of the _laissez faire_ doctrine, and it will be observed that the tone of
all the extracts is favorable to free trade and hostile to protection and
even to manufactures in a marked degree. We see, also, that Mr. Webster,
with his usual penetration and justice of perception, saw very clearly that
uniformity and steadiness of policy were more essential than even the
policy itself, and in his opinion were most likely to be attained by
refraining from protection as much as possible.
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