The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-05-23
WHITE SURRY IN THE FIELD.

WHITE SURRY IN THE FIELD.
i, Mr. Richie the venerable Nestor Of the Press,
has mounted White Surry, and, armed cap-a-pie,
is riding from rank to rank exhorting the Demo-
cracy to stick together" in order that they may
defeat that dreaded Richmond, Henry Clay. Ne
vel did general implore his soldiers more patheti-
cally, or more pitiously, to stand by him in the
BATTLE and not ''cut and run" while the very ear
nestness of his manner, and the beseeching tones
of his voice, betray his want of confidence in
those whom he duplicates, and his fear that
they will become more formidable TO each other
than to the enemy.
A few days ago Mr.. Richie came out with an
unusual show Of courage in favor of Annexation,
and therefore apparently against Mr.. Van Buren,.
To those not thoroughly acquainted with Mr.. R.
this looked ominous for Mr.. Van Buren,. To
them it appeared as if for once in his life, Mr..
r. had made up his mind to abandon his favor
lite man, and stand by what he supposed to be a
popular measure; and it was at once inferred
that Mr.. Van Burens cake was dough. Not so,
however, did those judge who have known Mr..
Richie long, and watched him closely. They
knew that he often "stoops TO conquer" and
that, while he seemed to give up Mr. Van Buren,
and to 60 for Texas, he was only playing the
game the more sure for Mr. Van Buren, He was
bowling to the breeze that he could not resist,
but to recover strength to stand against it.
Those who have been long conversant with
the Democratic politicians Of Virginia, predicted
at the time Mr.. Van Buren, was apparently
thrown overheard, in their eagerness to seize
upon Texas, that they would all be whipped into
the harness, and again attached to the car Of
athe Little Magician" where they would pull as
kindly as we'll trained horses. They have been
so long under the hand of g the Knight of the
Birch and Ferule," that they have become as
docile and timd as schoolboys True they may
for moment "cut up and manifest glimmer-
ing of independence, but they are sure to feel and
kiss the rod Immediately after. On such occa-
sions Mr. Richie reminds us of skilful driver
OF four-in-hand team, who manages his steeds
with admirable skill and adrotness: if inclined
to take the rein, he yields it gently, allowing
them to exhaust themselves, and blow off little
of their extra steam At length he gradually
draws in, pressing more and more upon the
curb, till they become manageable; and when
they have exhausted themselves, and are inclined
to slacken their pace, he begins to let them, one
after another, feel the whip, weighing his casiga
ton with such admonition as shall let them
understand the purpose for which it is applied
Another might be inclined to compare Mr.. Richie
to the Spanish herdsman. who, with whip, the
stock of which is about eighteen inches in length,
and lash about twenty feet, becomes the terror
of the herd, which, on hearing the crack of his
whip, that is more like that of rifle than any
thing else that we compare it to, though scat
tered over miles of prairie or woods, Immediately
run to gather at the usual place of herding lest
they feel that snap which invariably lays bare the
flesh. and which they are sure to feel if refrac-
tory. While we agree that the Democratic poll
ticians of Virginia may be compared to the Span
ish herd, zoe DO not assent to the accuracy of The
comparison with Mr. Richie to the hcrdsman
He may occasionally use his whip, but unlike
the herdsmaD, he miugles encouragement and
commentator occasionally with his chastse
mens, so that while his lash is dreaded, his favor
and countenance is obsequiously conrted.
But while Mr.. r. thus Yields power that
causes others to tremble, he himself is subject to
- power behind the throDe," which causes him
to trenble also whenever he heirs the mutterng
of its thunder That power is the power of
numbers" The voice of liking Numbers has
ever been sufficient to frighen Mr.. r. out of his
propreiy. and into any measure, however much
he might have been opposed TO it ;,wtness his
oppcsi ion to, and subsequent support of, General
Jackson, whose election, he declared, would be
curse TO the country, and his opposition to the