Cartoon mocking Nicholas Biddle, president of the controversial Bank of the U.S., as a corrupt emperor of finance served by New York's financial district. Depicts a self-effacing Biddle on the steps of a bank delivering a speech to a large crowd of his obsequious cheering subjects comprised of bankers and brokers. Two men, possibly New York editors accused of accepting bribes in return for publishing pro-Bank articles, Charles King and/or Mordecai Manual Noah and/or James W. Webb, hoist him on their knees. Biddle declares that he will bear the burden of the attacks of the Bank opponents as those before him will acquit him of scandal. In the far left background, a group of men describe Biddle as a monster and allude to his dubious relationship with New York merchant Silas E. Burrows, who was accused of bribing Noah and Webb. Contains a fabricated verse below the image from the popular poem "The Devil's Walk," commonly misattributed to Robert Porson (as in the cartoon) about the faithless servility of Satan's subjects., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, edited.
Date
[1832?]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department political cartoons - 1832-18W [5760.F.50]
Cartoon concerning President Jackson's destruction of the Bank of the United States, including his veto of the Bank's recharter and the removal of its federal deposits. Depicts Jackson, "Jack Downing," and others attacking the Bank with axes, "veto mortar," and cannon balls. Jackson and "Downing" hollar about "smashing down" "Monopoly & Oppression" as well as the absence of a "nest of varmants" when the house was originally built. Members of Bank investigative "committees" flee the building, while others are crushed under the bank, its "deposit pillar" destroyed. Spectators, including evil sprites, run a press, clamor for tossed money bags labelled with alleged bribery amounts, and scream "This is a fair business transaction." Also includes sheets of paper scattered on the ground inscribed with allusions to the Bank War, including"Deranged Currency" and "Petitions.", Manuscript note on verso: From his Aunt Isabella 1840., Previous owner, probably C.P. Lukens. See Congressional Elephant political cartoons - 1832 - 2 (5760.f.42)., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, editions.
Date
[1834?]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department political cartoons - 1834-4W [5760.F.58]
