<i>Title:</i> The  great Presidential sweepstakes of 1856. Free for all ages, "go as they please"
<p><i>Abstract:</i> A nativist perspective on the campaign of 1856. In a race scene, American party candidate Millard Fillmore leads in the bid for the White House. Fillmore rides in a carriage "American Express" at left, driven by the youthful "Young America" figure. (See "Uncle Sam's Youngest Son," no. 1854-4.) A trim, dark horse pulls it swiftly toward the White House as spectators cheer, "Fillmore and Union for ever!" and "We'll soon have the right man in the right place.'" Fillmore says, "Founded by Washington the only sure Line to Washington is the American Express," while his driver remarks, "We've got a sure thing on this race." He is trailed by Democratic candidate James Buchanan (center) carried on the shoulders of incumbent Franklin Pierce, and a cross-bearing John C. Fremont, in a carriage pulled by the woolly nag symbolic of abolitionism. Fremont is once again characterized as a pawn of antislavery interests. (The cross here alludes to rumors of his Catholicism.) His carriage is led by New York "Tribune" editor Horace Greeley, and it carries Fremont's wife Jessie and a large sack. It is at present mired in an "Abolition Cess Pool." Abolitionist preacher Henry Ward Beecher tries to force the back wheel using a rifle as a lever. Beecher: "Brother Horace jerk his [i.e., the nag's] head up once more and Shriek for Kansas, and I'll give the wheel a pry with my rifle." The reference is to Republican attempts to exploit the Kansas violence as an election issue, and to Beecher's arming of antislavery settlers in Kansas. Greeley: "It's no use crying Kansas any more it dont Prick his Ears a bit--I guess we're about used up." Fremont: "Oh that I had kept the road &amp; not tried to wade through this dirty ditch, but these fellows persuaded me, it was a shorter Way--and so I've gone it blind.'" Buchanan (to Pierce): "Frank, I am afraid we aint got legs enough to beat Fillmore, but its some comfort to see old Greelys team stuck in the mud." Pierce: "I don't see how my party expect me to carry this old platform in, a winner, when they thought I had'nt legs enough to run for myself." He is probably referring to his failure to win renomination in 1856. Below the image entries in the race are described: "Young America. --- Enters, Fillmore' by Honesty out of Experience (trained on the Union track). "Democrat.--Enters, ₂ld Buck' (alias Platform') by Fillibuster out of Federalist' ⁸xercised on the Ostend Course.' "Greeley, Weed, Beecher &amp; Co.--Enters, Ca-nuck Pony, Freemont,' by Wooly Head' out of Wooly Horse' from the Mariposa stable.)"
<i>Physical description:</i> 1 print on wove paper : lithograph ; image 24 x 41  cm.
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<i>Notes:</i> Published in: American political prints, 1766-1876 / Bernard F. Reilly. Boston : G.K. Hall, 1991, entry 1856-23.; Probably drawn by Louis Maurer and published by Nathaniel Currier.; Title from item.
Popular Graphic Arts
1856
<p>Library of Congress
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