He was a candidate for the Senate at one time, but was defeated by a much inferior man.

He was fond of argument; never was contented without challenging somebody and was a very tough customer to encounter, whatever side of a question he chose to take.

He liked, however, nothing better than a sturdy resistance.

To yield to him was never the way to win his good will.

The first day when we went to live at the same boarding-house, I got into a hot dispute with him at dinner over the Wilmot Proviso, and the constitutional power of Congress to legislate against slavery in the territories, which was then a burning question.