Political cock fighters. Book illustration from Library of Congress

A figurative portrayal of the 1844 presidential contest as a cock-fight, in which Whig candidate Henry Clay prevails. Clay and Democratic opponent Polk battle in a pit or ring as several prominent political figures look on. The Polk bird is obviously waning, having lost many of its feathers. Clay crows, "Cock a doodle doo doo." Outside the ring some of the spectators comment on the action. Daniel Webster (far left) says: "I'll bet one of my best Chowders on the Kentucky Rooster [i.e., Clay]." Beside him Clay's running-mate Theodore Frelinghuysen watches silently. Disappointed Democratic aspirant Martin Van Buren (center) remarks, "They rejected me, let them look to their Champion!" Beside Van Buren stand (left to right) prominent Democrats John C. Calhoun, Thomas Hart Benton, Andrew Jackson, and an unidentified fourth man. Jackson comments, "By the Eternal! I doubt the pluck of that Cock from Tenessee [i.e. Tennessee]" [Polk], if he does "go for Texas."
Entered . . . 1844 by James Baillie.
Lith. & pub. by James Baillie 33 Spruce St. N.Y.
Signed with monogram: H.B. (H. Bucholzer).
The Library's impression was deposited for copyright on June 26, 1844.
Title appears as it is written on the item.
Hess and Kaplan, p. 12.
Weitenkampf, p. 79.
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 1844-25.