PERSONALITIES IN DEBATE I have been, in general, enabled to avoid angry conflicts in debate or the exchange of rough personalities.

My few experiences of that kind came from attacks on Massachusetts, which I could not well avoid resenting.

The only two I now think of happened in my first term.

In one case, Mr.S.
S.Cox of New York, who was one of the principal champions on the Democratic side of the House, a man noted for his wit, undertook to make an attack on the Massachusetts Puritans, and to revive the old slander that they had burned witches.
I made some slight correction of what Mr.Cox had said but he renewed the attack.

I was then comparatively unknown in the House.