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Smoking him out
| Content Provider | Library of Congress - Photographs |
|---|---|
| Spatial Coverage | United States |
| Description | A humorous commentary on Barnburner Democrat Martin Van Buren's opposition to regular Democratic party nominee Lewis Cass. Van Buren and his son John were active in the Free Soil effort to prevent the extension of slavery into new American territories. In this he opposed the conservative Cass, who advocated deferring to popular sovereignty on the question. In "Smoking Him Out," Van Buren and his son (wearing smock, far right) feed an already raging fire in a dilapidated barn. (radical New York Democrats supporting Van Buren were referred to as "Barnburners" because in their zeal for social reforms and anticurrency fiscal policy they were likened to farmers burning their barns to drive out the rats). On the left, Lewis Cass prepares to leap from the roof of the flaming structure while several rats likewise escape below him. The artist seems to favor Van Buren, and his attempt to force the slavery issue in the campaign. The Free Soilers, unlike the Democrats, supported enforcement of the Wilmot Proviso, an act introduced by David Wilmot which prohibited slavery in territories acquired in the Mexican War. John Van Buren, adding another pitchfork of hay to the flames, exclaims, "That's you Dad! more 'Free Soil.' We'll rat'em out yet. Long life to Davy Wilmot." |
| File Format | JPG / JPEG |
| Language | English |
| Part of Series | Cartoon Prints, American |
| Requires | HTML5 supported browser |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Subject Domain (in LCSH) | Barnburner Democrats. |
| Subject Domain (in LCSH) | Van Buren, John,--1810-1866. |
| Subject Domain (in LCSH) | Cass, Lewis,--1782-1866. |
| Subject Domain (in LCSH) | Presidential elections--United States--1840-1850. |
| Subject Domain (in LCSH) | Free Soil Party (U.S.)--1840-1850. |
| Subject Domain (in LCSH) | Van Buren, Martin,--1782-1862. |
| Subject Domain (in LCSH) | Wilmot, David,--1814-1868. |
| Subject Domain (in LCSH) | Wilmot proviso--1840-1850. |
| Content Type | Image |
| Resource Type | Photograph |
