Sell The Racers

At the time when the rivalry and jealouay of the great Whig leaders, Messrs Clay and Webster, disturbed the harmony and menaced the iritegrity of the party Mr. Seaton, of the National Intelligencer then Mayor of Washington, entertainec at his hospitable mansion a large conipany of the most conspicuous gentlemen in the city belongiug to that organization One object was to furnish an eligible opportunity for those of the same political creed to confer freely at the social board with a vjew to securing unity of action in Congress. Mr. Seaton had great faith in the softening influence of discreet conviviality, and being a genial host, of elegant address and winning manners, no man in Washington was better fitted to manage an affair of the kind. He was universally popular, never said or did an ungracious thing, and his entertainments were always a success. There was a general attendance of the Whigs, inoluding Congressmen and members of the cabinet, and some prominent oflicers of the army and navy : General Scott. whose Presidential aspirations had given much uneasiness to severa! gentlemen whose eyes were turned in the same direction, besides Mr. Webster and Mr. Clay. It was a jolly time, high living being a prevalent weakness of politicians in W ashington, both Whig and Democratie. The situation had been discussed, several prominent gentlemen having frankly expressed their views. Obviously there was a lack of harmony among the leaders. At this stage of the consultation, Cost. Johnson, speaking in a tone so loud as to arrest the attention of the company, begged permission to relate an anecdote which he thought applicable to the mattter under consideration. " Go on ! go on !" resounded from all parta of the room. " A neighbor of mine in Washington County, a wealthy planter, was much addicted to horse-racing. The turf was a passion with him. He had a stable of of fine horses, of the purest blood, and he attended every meeting, far and near, if the race-course was accessible. His horses ran well, but he Dever won a purse. After repeated disappointments he told his trainer that he had made up his mind to sell his racing stud and retire from the field. 'Don't do dat, massa,' said the iarkey ; dem's first-rate hosses, and run ike de wind.' - ' But they never win a race, and I am determined to sell them.' - ' Pray don't, massa - dey's good for something - dey can just beat one anodder.' " There was a loud laugh at the story ; :ut it was observed that Messrs. Clay, Webster, and Scott did not seem to enoy itas much as the rest of the coinpany,