He was a good and frequent speaker in Parliament: though loosely associated with the Irish Patriot Party he clashed on occasion with Henry Grattan, and claimed that the liberties granted by the Constitution of 1782 were insufficient.[1] He prided himself on independence of mind; according to Ball his nickname "Slippery Sam" did not mean that he was corrupt or untrustworthy but rather that no party could ever count on his support.[8]