Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-09-12

opens his eyes upon this new porh noTfor ano View
ing that little red, forked, ever movable tongue play.
| ing within ON inch Of his nose. This single thought
ourhtto induce men to examine the grass to sec whe'
ther there be not serpent in the path snake IN
the grass is like the serpent OF DID, "more subtle than
anv beast of the field" He is different from the old
SERPENT III this that while that arch deceiver played
upon the crcduity of Eve, the snake in the grass, OF
which we are thinking, attempts only to play upon
the unwary and thoughtess politician, to lead him
from the path of reotitudr and principle to touch the
forbidden fruit the tasting Of which ensures political
death lie sits
! "Assavinc bv his dcvilish art to reach
| The organs Of the fancy, and with them forge
| Illusions, as he list phsnsnsmS and dreams
It's greatest aim s while lit unnk itself and with
ndented glides did slip away into bush," keeping
| concealed from public gaze, to raise
| .At least dis,em3erd discon,ented thoughts,
Vain hopes, vain aims lnordinate desires,
I Blown up with high conceits enscndeTing pride.
| snake in the gra,s, while slipping cautiously
about, appears the humblest, meekes most harmless
inoffensivo being under the armament, He can bow
'shis turret crest, and sleek enumeld neck, fawn-
ing bu, when the object is attained for which this
humility is assumed that turre crest is tossed aloftso
high us not to see the worms below.
political snake in the grass ia animal conceal
| ing its body within unnatural skin. species hi
| ding opinions and principles under cloak through
| which the unparalleled eye does not penetrate II
conceas its forked tongue and slmy folds, its venom
and It's sting. but places itself in such light to
hibi, the hues Of its body reflected from objects not
it's own. II displays its fascinating and captivating
mowers and charms birds Of every feather, winning
nv it's nrts and blandisbnents the giddy and the
hougtsss from their propety. 1t hides in The gras.,
in places that arc otherwise inviting, and is the more
dangerous because the unwary and unsuspicous are
cntanced in ts folds. 1t hides thut it may hi:c the
horses feet shat the unconscious rider may Ge thrown.
The serpent is said 10 display its subtlety because
it stops i,s eur that it may hear. Argument and
reason are thrown away upon snake in the grass be-
cause truth is answere', with hiss and wisdom but
nvokes its rate. "rney like tho deaf adder that
stoppeth her ear, which will not hearkcn to the voice
of the cha,ncr charming never 50 wisely" But il
yon are charmed by its appearance or know not if'
nature and unconsciousy place yourself within its
power, "at the last it beth like serpent and sting
eth like adder"
Have our readers never seen this species of ser
nents 7 We do not refer TO the little snakes in the
grass thai appear in the ordinary walks OF ite' but
the reat boa constructors, that seen in political
Ute that are certain to be visible in that party which
s struggling for existence ond seeks 10 win from oil
other parties strength enough place itself in the as-
cendancy. How like snakes in the grass are the
old Fcderalists in the garb Of Revolutionary ing.
One OF the striking characterscso Of serpents Is their
power to change their skuto slip the entire cuticie
from off their bodies, and como out in new and
rlos.ier epidernis feeling no doubt invigoraed by
the change purified to appearance, but with the dis
positiou to feed upon the dust still inherent III their
nature. '...
How like this characteristic is the frequent change
which the same party has exhibited, as shifts its
name to suit the mutations of circumstances through
which it has been driven How, like the shedding OF
the skin, the sudden transformation from the old Fed.
erali.t to the National Republican. How, like
snake in the grass, were the same National Republi'
cans, clothed in the garb Of IN old fashioned Demo
| cratic Republican. Tho difference between them,
was, ,ha, tho last looked like the ion the other like
the sss in the lions skin. How, like snake in the
Grass, was Daniel Webster, when, under IN October
sun, l"the snake rolled in the cheerful sum-" be
undertook to preach to Virgiuiaus genuine States
Rights doctrines conformity to the resolutions OF 9s
How, like snake in the grass is a full blooded Wing,
striving to keep his skin and yet seeming to desire
to shed il, tricked off in the embematc parapherna-
liza Of o Know Nothing, "Eyc-Nose- -Nought."
II is Of all things supremely amusing and ridicu-
Ions IN hear them in strain of dictaoral slang tell
ing the Democracy of Virginia, you are showing
Yourselves in your true colors, you "are struggling
for spos and not principles and hereafter suggest
TO Won the propricty of reversing Your motto from
tha, of principles not men, TO the moro appropri'
ae one of spols and spoils only without regard to
PRINCIPLES or men Yc snakes in the grass, what are
your princples' What has become OF them'-
| Since cimblins and |gourds have been smashed
and destroyed, since cider barrels were sucked
empty and drv, and win in future be ut
,erly prohibited by the Maine liquor law ad'
! rocatcs; since that same old Coon has been eerved
up n, "Our House." and sent I'VE presume, envelopet
IN incest condiments, for otherwise we cannot imag
inc what stomach could have enjoyed ill., to the ed
tor Of ore Of our City papers, since Log Cabins and
Yellow Rivers have ceased to be the themes ef poet:
aud of sages, what hns become Of those immaculate
princples Where is that bran bread and those gol
den spoons, Ye snakes in the grass what have you
done with the United States Bunk Where have you
4 hid your tnrl Tor protectlonf HOW rc you o TUE
Alien and Sediton lawsl What will you do when pro-
position brought torepenl the law establishing Re
lig,ous freedom Will you prescribe your daughter oil
j your sister if she loves aud marries naturazed citizen
If your son. touched by the arrows of Cupid, looks
with delight upon some lovely Cn'tilian maid, will
glossy locks, like the Ravens wing and durk eyes
flushing like tho gems Of night will you prescribe hin
too because that maiden Is Catholic and may teach
hi, sons to reverence the power of the Pope1 Oh
you will slip along the grass and keeping dark IN
ducc those Know Eohngs TO think Mt lenst you taro
their creed, provided they will select loving Wins
who seeks tho sl,os, aud spc!s only, having throwi
hi. principles to ths winds .. -
These snakes in the grass are still tho samo anima
| at which Mr. Jefferson hurled his masculine jaTeln
when he said their object was to return to power pn
der some new form They had but one MEANS Wh'cf
was to "arde the Republicans and join the minority
aud barter with them for the cloak OF their name' =
Il say join the minority because the me)orty OF 'n'
Republicans, not needing them will not buy them'-
The minority having other mesns OF ruling the ma
jorty will give price for auxliaries and that Pnes
must be principle" "and when thisparty is formed
continues Mr.. Jefferson, "yho@ constitute the ma
Jorty OF which majority is then to dictate J. Ger
tanly the Federasts."- snakes IN the grass you
know that this truth is spoken like sunbeam. and "