In 1864, with the Civil War dragging into its third year, many Republicans worried that the unpopularity of the conflict would cause Lincoln to lose his bid for reelection. Many in the North, tiring of the war, hoped that his opponent and former general, Democratic candidate George McClellan, would attempt to broker a peace with the Confederacy. These peace Democrats were referred to as Copperheads by Republicans, who believed they resembled venomous serpents. This pro-Republican cartoon rebukes both McClellan and, by extension, the supporters of the Northern Democratic Party. In the illustration, the general’s sword – the symbol of his military leadership – has been replaced with a shovel, referencing his predisposition to construct trenches and engage in siege warfare, rather than launch assaults. As the general attempts to tunnel his way into the White House, he is confronted by a ghostly apparition of Liberty and a legion of skeletal Union soldiers who had fallen in battle. Liberty points a sword at McClellan, blocking his way. She admonishes him for allowing “these my Children to die in the swamp and on the Battlefield.” For this misdeed, she instructs him to instead dig his own grave and be forgotten. The lithographer and publisher of the work are unknown.
This print is a commentary on the election of 1848. In this image, Free Soil Party candidate, Martin Van Buren is riding on the back of his son John, whose long legs are what is carrying him across “Salt River” to the White House on the far shore. “Salt River” was a well-known symbol for political ruin, and it is only through John’s help that Martin makes it through. John was a driving force behind the merger of the Liberty and Free Soil Parties that nominated Martin for the presidency, and he acknowledges this saying, “Thanks to your long legs, John, I believe that I shall pass over this Jordan dry shod.” While John is carrying Martin to the presidency, abolitionist editor Horace Greeley and candidates, Zachery Taylor and Henry Clay are drowning. Clay is immersed head first with only his feet showing, while both Taylor and Greeley are up to their necks. Clay refused to support the Wilmot Proviso that stated Congress had the moral duty to ban slavery, and that decision greatly influenced his loss of the Whig nomination. Taylor is up to his neck in the river, but he had the support of Henry Clay’s cousin, the abolitionist and Kentucky Whig leader Cassius Clay, which helped secure him the nomination. Greeley yells to Cassius who is seated on the bank for help, but he replies, “can’t come there Horace, I risked my life in Mexico and I don’t like to do it again.” The Democratic nominee for president, Lewis Cass was not present in this print, meaning that it was likely printed before the nominating conventions.
The lithographer as detailed by the print is H. Bucholzer, but it is most likely actually H. Bucholaer. Bucholaer was a cartoonist in New York City who worked closely with publisher, James Baillie, whose work included pro- and anti- Clay, pro- Polk, and anti- Van Buren cartoons. The publisher of the print is James S. Baillie. He was active in New York from 1838 to 1855, and known for his hand coloring as well as lithography in addition to publishing. Baillie worked as a colorist for Currier and Ives, but is well known for his own work, including many prints depicting the Election of 1848.
