Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1828-04-22
NAV grow out Of the affay. We proceed

him. He said that in his speech he did, and
he did again now, denounce the honorable
gentleman for gross plagiarism on the
Boston Report. The gentleman's genius
he said, "could never have produced re-
port on the state of the finances had there
never been any intercourse between him
and the masculine absurdity of the Boston
Report" Mr.. Burgess said he had not made
the charge against Mr.. McDuffie insidiously
he had made it openly on the floor; he had
mt it in print; and he had sent Mr.. Med. a
printed copy of the whole speech. Mr.
Burgess continued
"Had the present efusion of his [McDufie's]
genius, and gentlemanly accomplishments, been
poured out upon me then, should have looked 70,
the source of it in the fiery and combustble elements
of his nature The generously passionate temper Of
a southern cline can furnish no such apology tor
| that cautious maleyolence which lies in wait ten
DAYS and nights and then suddenly uncois and aims
her fangs at the interpreting adversary. The gen.
tleman says have some character for some learning
thank his courtesy; but would have preferred the
appreciation of less questionable authority What
soever progress he may have made in science or let
ters he not to have adopted the style of speak
| ing common to scholars and gentlemen. He who
could use the terms of vulgar abuse such as he has
used to me- before this House and this nation places
himself below the reach of any rebuke from my
tongue"
Mr.. McDuffie again rose, and expressed
his pleasure that the member from Rhode
Island had, "by his usual and characteristic
display of parliamentary courtesy, made it
in order for him to say what he would have
said before had it been in order. He then
went on to give his reason for not noticing
the insinuation in Mr.. Burgess printed
speech when it was delivered: the obvious
reason was, he said, the printed pamphlet,
published as Mr.. BIS speech, was never de-
livered at all. What the gentleman had said
in reference to the report of the committee
of Ways and Means, was entirely different
from what appeared in the printed pamphlet.
All that he said was, that the report con-
tanned the same views as the Boston Report.
Mr.. Med: said that when Mr.. B. used this
expression, he appeared to be under the in
fuence of irritation at the decision of the
chair, having at the time been called to or
der; and as Mr.. B. was an old man, Mr..
McDufiie said he was disposed to pass over
in silence words which he presumed pro-
ceeded from the impulse and excitement of
the moment; but when he saw the pitiful
and impotent charge of plagiarism repeated
in a new version in almost every page of the
printed speech, he could not but regard it as
an evidence of premeditated malice; and he
felt bound to expose the author, that he might
receive the sentence which he merits from
the Judgment of tnepublick.
Mr.. Burgess rejoined: he said, that had
Mr.. McDufie's rude and vulgar attack any
of the apologies of suddenly exerted anger,
he should pass it by as freak Of passionate
boyhood; but the honorable gentleman
had been breathing over the embers of his
malice, and enkindling the sooty
of heart never remarkable for
much generosity of purpose or kindness of
Mr. McDuffie said in the course
of his remarks that he acted for no other
man, or set of men-what he was, he was
himself In reference to this Mr.. Burgess
made the following observations =
He is himself, and neither he or any other per-
son will ever mistake him for any body else The
honorable gentleman need not fear being lost in the
ordinary samples of existence His individuality is
secure 1t is very probable there is but this one
specimen IN the whole mass of moral intellectual
and physical being With what other thing could he
be contounded? Men would as soon mistake the
merry elements angry action, and ferocious visage of
wildcat, for the gentle blood and neacefuI counte
nance Of the lamb"
Mr.. b. was here called to order by the
Speaker, who said that such personal allu-
sions could not be permitted. Mr.. B. con-
tinued, but confined himself for a time to
the discussion of some points of political
economy concerning which he differed from
the report of the committee of WAYS and
Means. A leading doctrine advanced in the
report is that impost for protection is tax
on consumption. This doctrine Mr.. Burgess
said was absurd ; and he went on with great
vehemenee, calling Mr.. Nc Duffie to account
Tor advancing such a dangerous doctrine.
and again accusing him of possessing HIM
self of it by plagiarism, till he was again
called to order by the Speaker. Resumino
his harangue, he said that the imprisoned
report of the committee of Ways and Means
had been widely spread, and he was deter
mined to spread the antidote co-extensivelv
with it. He believed, he said as he hoped
to be In mercy before the judgment seat
where he must shortly appear, that if this
administration should be followed by another
governed by the doctrines of this report. the
independence of the United States would
soon be Frustrated, in which event he who
had effected the catastrophe by propagating
al IL