Polk & Co. Going up Salt River - Public domain book illustration, Library of Congress

The artist foresees a Democratic defeat in the 1844 presidential election. Party figures Martin Van Buren, Thomas Hart Benton, vice-presidential candidate George M. Dallas, Andrew Jackson, and presidential nominee James K. Polk are in a dinghy towed by the "Steamer Ballot Box" up Salt River toward political defeat. The bow of the dinghy is adorned with the head of presidential incumbent John Tyler. On a staff on the steamer's stern is mounted a large cabbage, a symbol which during the 1840 election campaign represented Whig hopes of retiring Van Buren to his home at Kinderhook "to raise cabbages." Here Van Buren has the body of a fox and Polk that of a long-necked bird, perhaps a goose or a crane. Van Buren: "I never sailed so far up this river before. We must be near the head of navigation." Polk, standing on the stern of the boat: "We've got up so far that the water grows shallow. I think I could get out & wade now." Jackson exclaims: "By the eternal! Polk don't give up the "ship.""
Drawn by H. Bucholzer.
Entered . . . 1844 by James Baillie.
Lithography & print coloring on reasonable terms by James Baillie No.33 Spruce St. New York.
Title appears as it is written on the item.
The Library's impression was deposited for copyright on July 10, 1844.
Weitenkampf, p. 80.
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 1844-34.