Virtuous Harry, or set a thief to catch a thief!

A satire on the Whig party's anti-annexation platform. The question of whether or not to annex Texas was a large issue separating candidates in the 1844 campaign. Annexation's serious implications for the future of slavery in the United States polarized voters between Polk, who supported it, and Clay, who opposed it. Texas, personified as an elegant and beautiful young woman holding a cornucopia filled with flowers, stands between presidential candidates Clay and Polk. Polk (left) doffs his hat and takes her hand saying, "Welcome, sister, Your Valor has won you liberty and independence, and you have fairly won the right to be identified with 'the land of the brave, and the home of the free.'" She replies, "Shall the slanders that have been urged against your sister, sever those whose blood flows from the same fountain?" George M. Dallas, standing to the left of Polk, comments, "Slandered as she is, let him that is without sin, cast the first stone at her!" Clay (at right, arms folded) piously says, "Stand back, Madam Texas! for we are more holy than thou! Do you think we will have anything to do with gamblers, horse-racers, and licentious profligates?" A Quaker (and possibly an abolitionist) taps Clay on the shoulder and reminds him, "Softly, Softly, friend Harry. Thou hast mentioned the very reason that we cannot Vote for thee!"

Entered . . . 1844 by James Baillie.

Lith & pub. by James Baillie 33 Spruce St. N.Y.

Signed: H. Bucholzer.

The Library's impression was deposited for copyright on June 26, 1844.

Title appears as it is written on the item.

Weitenkampf, p. 78.

Forms part of: American cartoon print filing series (Library of Congress)

Published in: American political prints, 1766-1876 / Bernard F. Reilly. Boston : G.K. Hall, 1991, entry 1844-27.

clay henry dallas george mifflin polk james k abolition movement presidential elections lithographs political cartoons virtuous virtuous harry thief vintage images 1844 prints 19th century president james polk president james k polk us presidents james knox cartoon prints american james s baillie h bucholzer united states history politics and government elections political campaigns library of congress

01/01/1844

Library of Congress

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