Image of a political cartoon illustrating the United States presidential election campaign of 1848; candidates (left to right) Martin Van Buren, John Hale, Lewis Cass, and Zachary Taylor fish from opposing banks of a river filled with fish bearing the names of the states; on a firm rock marked "Constitution," stands Taylor at right with fish swarming about his line, most of them hooked on its multiple leaders, "Ohio" being prominent in the center; it rains on the left bank (in contrast to Taylor's sunny bank), where the other candidates stand; directly across from Taylor is Free Soil candidate Martin Van Buren, standing on "Free Soil" and fishing with a pole whose line has broken and only the fish "New York" swims with his broken tackle toward Taylor's line; behind Van Buren is a cabbage patch; further upstream stand Democrat Lewis Cass and Liberty party candidate John Hale, who commiserate on their poor catch. "Pub. by Peter Smith, 2 Spruce St. N.Y."--text, bottom center margin. "Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1848 by Peter Smith, in the Clerk's office of the District Court of the Southern District of N.Y."--text, bottom center margin. "They [the fish] are not quite so fond of this side of the stream as I expected, and my hook and line has been used so often it has grown too old and rusty to hold anything."--text (over Van Buren), top right of image. "I know of no better Rock than this to stand upon, for I have always noticed, that though the fish may wander off now and then, they are sure to come back to this spot, knowing that here they will find the most wholesome food."--text (over Taylor), top right of image. "I don't get a bite. This confounded river is so filled with weeds, that my line gets caught every time I throw in. I wish that I had advocated the power of Congress to make improvements in Rivers and Harbors."--text (over Cass), top center of image. "I may as well pull up and go home, Matty's got my bait, I stand no chance."--text (over Hale), top center of image.
Type
image
Extent
1 lithograph : uncolored ; overall 33.97 x 47.94 cm (13 3/8 x 18 7/8 in.)
Cass, Lewis, 1782-1866--Pictorial works Fishing--Pictorial works Hale, John P. (John Parker), 1806-1873--Pictorial works Presidents--United States--Pictorial works Political campaigns Politicians--Pictorial works Taylor, Zachary, 1784-1850--Pictorial works Van Buren, Martin, 1782-1862--Pictorial works Lithographs--1825-1850. (gmgpc) Political cartoons. (gmgpc)
Source
Jay T. Last Collection Politics & Social Issues Large Size The Jay T. Last Collection of Graphic Arts and Social History, Huntington Digital Library
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