Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-03-08
THE GULLs.

In passing from Mobile to New Orleans last
summer in one of the magnificent steamers
which ply between those Southern cities. we
had occasion TO observe upon Lake Borgne u
species Of bird known in that latitude rs "ihe
EuN" We understand that these Gulls are
numerous on the waters Of the Gull. The
flock which attracted our attention. lowered
over and around the boat and picked up from
the surface Of the lake whatever scraps Of bread
or fruits were thrown overheard. SO keen eyed
and deyterous were they, that little escaped
them They were more voracious than the
sea. : whole covey would sweep through the
air and skim the water and ciamor like null
titude of magpies to rescue the peel OF an orange
or a,,pc. or biz Of cracker from the waves.
Sometimes wearied by flight, and their exer-
tons. they would settle momentarily on the
water and rest. For hours we watched these
poor birds in their earnest struggle Tor life,
their ceaseless c,amor for food their bold, rest
less flight after the noble vessel which walked
the water like thing of like" Their utility
was Il difficult problem, for though they ex-
hiLited great skill in cleaning the waters Of
the scantv harvest which fell from the boat,
and seemed. from the noise they made, 10 be
engaged in great work, it was manifest that
without their agency, whatever was valuable
as food would have sunk in the lake and been
appropriated by its finny tribes.
Wcwerc fairly at fault for theory by which
to support the institution Of tie galIs. 1t
was noticeable that they possessed but little
Discrimination. and would hy US earnestly and
clatter as incontinently after the useless hull Of
all almond or wisp OF dry straw, as for a piece
of bread or veritablc banana. Indeed
they did not distinguish between All orange
and quid of tobacco, or 4 melon rind and q
stump Of cigar,
Great nature! :" said we at length awakina
from our reyeric, "in thy ample volume are a|
things great and small-.tormulasf for all human
tlinss-and these poor gulls are the express
Mec and perfected modet Of So"theTm h"o'r
.Nothiay,." They follow the great steamship
of the Democracy, as it swims the sea OF State
and clamor and pick up the scraps which arc
thrown overheard. good or bad, and we!ter ii
the waves Of its wake Ncritablc Gulf-gull,
are they-a sort Of scavenser bird, and moi
without their interest either.
This train of reflection slept in our mind un
til i, was recently aroused by the clamor o
tue sulls about the ertrdrdgance oil the Admin
istra,ion. and their evident disposition to pick
up and appropriate the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. o
the Democracy-io appropriate shreds ant
scraps of their olU issues in thor platforms, ant
feast and be merry upon the refuse OF thcil
( table
A scrap Of a mouldy biscuit is thrown over
board by the Petersburg Convention, in thu
shape Of Guhernatoral candidacy, which Is
chargcablc with grave error of the nominee
long ago rcpcntcd OF, repudiatcd and atone'
I for What most confoundcd chattcring Is
heard around the Democratic ship Of State
! All the yvlis in the Gulf could not make
half the noise the Opposition is now manufac
| turing to order about "rc,rcnchmcnt and re
form" when everybody knows that, if they only
had the chance, they would do, as matter q
course. Of avowed .ftiM rad Gtc-iong practice
n thousand times norsc than the AdminiStra
ton has ever DONE The country expects the
Democratic party to reform its own abuses ant
purge its official ranks of all extravaganza, and
put the old ship of State on the old Democrat
lie track Of strict economy and strict construc
ton; and the expectation will not be disap
pointed Il hear your mother is sick, said
the wolf to the lamb. Yes" said the lamb
'but have been taught that you are not TO u
trusted as her physician. Please sir, wait with
out until | call for my master" The vol
scampercd off.
The country is ittle sick, but ".Stm" ID
rot it~ l,hysieian, and the Democracy replies TO
his offered surgery, Just wait without until l
call for my master-the people," Will Sam
rait? We think we see him .eampering to
his den.
o, what blazing Southern Rights men
have the Southern opposition all suddenly be.