Originally posted by manny321
he was a sprit in lotr why couldn't he send his black riders
No he wasn't, Sauron returned from the eastern-parts of Middle-Earth sometime around 2500 (can't remember exact date), which was confirmed by Gandalfs journey to Dol Goldur 90 years before to the quest of the lonely mountain. (Him being without body is a decision made by the filmmakers).
But, as Exa said, Sauron was not aware that the ring was as close as it was, and wasn't looking for it.
LOL...I'll start with the Ring history here to explicate this matter better for those who haven't read the Silmarillion. 😄
Sauron worked with the Elven smith Celebrimbor to create The Rings of Power which were meant to beautify and heal the desolate lands of Middle-earth. Sauron convinced the Elves (and it wasn't easy to convince them!) that forging these Rings will be for the good and benefit of Middle-earth.
The Elves made many Rings and prized three in particular---Narya, Nenya and Vilya---they were the rings of Fire, Water, and Air. These Rings were different because Sauron had not actually touched these Rings so his power of them was less than the other Rings.
Okay ... still with me? You know that in secret Sauron forged The One Ring to have dominion over them all. The Rings were VERY powerful and to control them ALL he had to pour a part of himself, part of his spirit and all his strength and will into the Ring. It was this act that connected Sauron to the power of all the other Rings.
Sauron was able to see and perceive the thoughts and wills of those who placed the Rings on. Elves sensed him right away and through and hid the three most powerful Rings. Sauron was mad, really mad because his trick hadn't worked. He had hoped that he would have control over all of Middle-earth through the Elves. Sauron declared open war on the Elves saying that the Rings were his and that the Elves would never have been able to forge them without his lore.
Sauron managed to collect all the Rings forged by the Elves other than the Three that the Elves had hidden. He then gave 7 of them (and this is where Fellowship picks up) to the Dwarves and 9 to the Kings of Men. He was unable to bend the wills of the Dwarves and had a hard time even seeing their thoughts. But in Men he was able to work magic.
And here's the answer to the question:
What power the Rings had varied from owner to owner. They made some Men sorcerers. The Nine Kings given Rings became mighty and powerful.
The power of The One Ring was an illusion. Really an illusion within an illusion. It still had the power to make the wearer a part of the invisible world - The Twilight World, The Void, but it was not like the other Rings. It would not give the wearer other than Sauron the mightiness, the magic if you will of the other forged Rings. This Ring had a single purpose - to rule all the other Rings so that in turn Sauron could rule all over Middle-earth.
Now, the "mace swinging act" that Sauron did in the prologue of FOTR might have something to do with his power himself. Remember he's a Maia and not just a random Man. His strength to swing a mace and send 5 to 10 people flying in the air all at the same time may be due to the fact that he's Maia, and he's wearing the Ring that he himself is Its Master, and also the fact that the site of the Battle was in Dagorlad, in Mordor, and we all know that the Ring is very, very, extremely powerful in Mordor because it is where It was forged. (That's why we saw Frodo going weaker and weaker and being more tempted the more they go closer to Mordor and Orodruin itself)
To sum this up, other bearers of the One Ring wouldn't have any power for wearing and carrying it other than being invisible. Sauron is the only Master of the One Ring and he will be the only person to have the power and might once the Ring is in his possession.
whoo! This is too long..I was just carried away, hope this answered your question though. 😄