| Creator |
Magee, John L., artist. |
| Title |
The great presidential race of 1856. [graphic]. |
| Publisher |
[Philadelphia] : [publisher not identified] |
| Publisher |
PA. Philadelphia. 1856 |
| Date |
[1856] |
| Physical Description |
1 print : lithograph ; sheet 36 x 53 cm (14 x 20.5 in.) |
| Description |
Cartoon ridiculing the Democratic and American (Know-Nothings) Party presidential candidates James Buchanan and Millard Fillmore
by depicting them in a race to win the election of 1856. Depicts Buchanan having crashed his mount (i.e, running mate John
C. Breckenridge depicted as a buck) into a rickety platform marked "Democratic Platform," Slavery," and "Cuba." An enslaved
African American man, portrayed with racistly caricaturized features, and wearing shackles on his ankles and worn and torn
clothes, shoes, and a hat, stands upon and ridicules the "Democratic Platform." Buchanan angrily replies, "You infernal Black
Scoundrel, if it had not been for you and that cursed Slavery Plank that Scared and upset my Buck, I should have won this
race certain." Following Buchanan is Fillmore using his running mate Andrew Jackson Donelson, depicted as a goose, as his
mount. Fillmore, the American Party candidate, carries a "Know-Nothing" lamp and fears his loss will dissolve the Union. In
the distance, the Republican candidate John C. Fremont pulls ahead to the cheers of many of the spectators. Brother Jonathan,
(predecessor of Uncle Sam), stands on an observation or judging deck and carries a timer’s watch. Additional spectators include
white men belittling Fillmore as "spineless" and a "goose," and a white boy holding a sign inscribed, "We Po'ked Em in 44;
We Pierced Em in 52; and We'll 'Buck Em' in 56." He is being hoisted by two African American men, portrayed with racistly
caricaturized features, upon the back of a gruff and annoyed-looking, bearded, white man asking him if he's a "Fre'mounter."
|
| Is referenced by |
Weitenkampf, p. 116 |
|
Reilly, 1856-15 |
| Notes |
Title from item. |
|
Artist and publication information supplied by Reilly. |
|
Political cartoon Horse sassengers! A free lunch lithographed on recto. (political cartoons - 1858 Hor, P.2275.18b). |
|
Accessioned 1979. |
|
RVCDC |
|
Description revised 2021. |
|
Access points revised 2021. |
|
Part of digital collections catalog through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the
Pennsylvania Department of Education through the Office of the Commonwealth Libraries, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
Tom Corbett, Governor, 2013-2014.
|
| Biographical / historical note |
Magee was a New York cartoonist and lithographer who eventually established his own lithographic firm in Philadelphia in 1850. |
| Subject |
Breckinridge, John C. (John Cabell), 1821-1875 -- Caricatures and cartoons. |
|
Buchanan, James, 1791-1868 -- Caricatures and cartoons. |
|
Donelson, Andrew Jackson, 1799-1871 -- Caricatures and cartoons. |
|
Fillmore, Millard, 1800-1874 -- Caricatures and cartoons. |
|
Frémont, John Charles, 1813-1890 -- Caricatures and cartoons. |
|
American Party. |
|
Democratic Party (U.S.) |
|
African American men -- Caricatures and cartoons. |
|
Animals -- Symbolic aspects. |
|
Deer -- United States. |
|
Geese -- United States. |
|
Horses -- United States. |
|
Jockeys -- United States. |
|
Presidents -- United States -- Election -- 1856. |
|
Racing -- United States. |
|
Racism in popular culture. |
|
Slavery -- United States. |
|
Enslaved persons -- United States. |
|
Spectators -- United States. |
|
Enslaved men -- United States -- Satire. |
| Geographic subject |
United States -- History -- 1815-1861. |
| Genre |
Lithographs -- 1850-1860. |
|
Political cartoons -- 1850-1860. |
| Location |
Library Company of Philadelphia| Print Department| political cartoons - 1858 Hor (verso) [P.2275.18a] |
| Accession number |
P.2275.18a |
