Obverse Image: A machine at left. In center, Liberty and Justice with an eagle perched on a vignette of three plows, ships in background. At right, a seated man with a rifle and dog, ships in background.
Obverse Text: 5 / FIVE / DIRECTORS RESPONSIBLE. / NO. 373 / C / THE MANUFACTURERS' BANK AT BELLEVILLE, WILL PAY FIVE DOLLARS ON DEMAND TO [illegible] OR BEARER / MAY 1 1835 / BELLEVILLE / NEW-JERSEY / RAWDON, WRIGHT, HATCH & CO. NEW-YORK
This 1834 print refers to Andrew Jackson’s desire to rid the government of inefficiency and corruption by removing political office holders he felt were dishonest, incompetent or just not doing a good job to his standards. Jackson felt that there should be turnover in political office holders by replacing them with people loyal to his vision of government. To a limited extent this occurs in most administrations but in Jackson's case, he replaced more than the usual amount and promoted a “spoils system” of rewarding the politically faithful with office, whether qualified or not.
In this print, Jackson is depicted as winged demon, hovering in the sky as a puppet master holding strings connected to symbols and objects representing political offices. Below him is a crowd of people attempting to reach out for the “political plumbs.” Jackson filled his administration with people loyal to him, promoting patronage.
The lithographer of this print is Anthony Imbert. Imbert is considered a pioneer of American lithography, but he got his artistic start painting marine scenes inspired by his long imprisonment in England as a naval officer. Upon arriving in America he was commissioned to prepare lithographic plates for illustration, leading to a long career in lithography. He captured life in New York City, and many of his prints are important for historical documentation of the city. Imbert died around 1838 as his wife, Mary Imbert is listed as a widow in that year’s city directory.
The lithographer of this print is James Akin (1773-1846). Akin was born in Charleston, South Carolina circa 1773. He worked as an engraver, lithographer, print publisher, portraitist, painter, cartoonist/caricaturist, druggist and restaurant owner in Philadelphia between 1794 and 1846. While primarily based in Philadelphia, he did work briefly as an engraver in Salem and Newburyport, Massachusetts between about 1804 and 1807. In addition to producing prints, Akin manufactured bookplates, trade cards, book illustrations, and transfer prints for ceramic pieces. His last name has appeared in Philadelphia city directories and advertisements as Aikin, Aitken, and Aiken. Akin’s business moved often during his career, but he produced most of his lithographs including “Settling the French Question” at his 18 Prune Street establishment. His wife Ophelia, also an engraver, continued to operate as an engraver at the Prune Street location following his death on July 16, 1846.
