At that time the United States Senate was the most august and dignified body in the world.  What is it to-day? O tempora, O mores! In the House, the palm of oratory was disputed between Mr. Clay and Mr. Randolph.  Their styles were so different, and both so effective, that it was difficult to distinguish by comparison, to which belonged the distinction of being first.  Mr. Clay was always collected and self-possessed—­he was, too, always master of his subject; and though he was a ready debater, he never made a set speech upon any important subject without careful preparation.  He was not easily disconcerted; courageous, with a strong will, he feared no intemperate opposition, and was never restrained from uttering his sentiments and opinions of men or measures.  He was kind and generous, until aroused or offended and, then, was merciless.  His sarcasm and invective upon such occasions was withering, and his vehemence daring and terrible.  No man of his day had a mind better balanced than Mr. Clay.  His judgment was almost always correct; his imagination brilliant, but always under the control of his judgment; his memory and preceptive faculties were wonderful; his education was defective, and the associations of the West had not given that polish to his manners which distinguishes men of education, reared in educated communities, and associating always with polished society.  Mr. Clay had been at the most polished courts of Europe, and was familiar with their most refined society; but these he visited in mature life, after the manners are formed, and habit made them indurate.  He had long been familiar, too, with the best society in his own country and, by this, had been much improved.  Still the Kentuckian would sometimes come through the shell, but always in a manner more to delight than offend; besides, Mr. Clay set little value upon forms and ceremony.  There was too much heart for such cold seeming, too much fire for the chill, unfeeling ceremony of what is termed first society.

Mr. Clay’s manners partook much of the character of his mind and soul.  They were prompt, bold, and easy; his eloquence was bold, rough, and overwhelming.

Like all men of genius, will, and self-reliance, Mr. Clay was impatient of contradiction.  The similarity in this regard, between Jackson, Clay, and Crawford was wonderful.  They were equally passionate, equally impetuous, and equally impatient—­all being natural men of great powers and limited education.  To say they were self-made, would be paying the Almighty a left-handed compliment.  But to say they assiduously cultivated His great gifts without much aid from the schoolmaster, would only be doing them unbiased justice.