Scene in Washington. In which the Presidental candidate of all the decency or respectable Webb "Whig" Party . . .

Whig senator Henry Clay is attacked here on several fronts. The artist alludes to his reputation for gambling, his widely publicized outburst in the House of Representatives in February 1838, and his alleged unethical flirtation with banking interests. The title also refers to a Clay supporter, the influential Whig editor of the "Morning Courier and New York Enquirer," James Watson Webb. Webb is credited with popularizing the label "Whig" as the name of the anti-Jackson political party..In the print Clay is shown as he "enters the Hall of Representatives from his favorite amusement "Brag and Poker"" with a book of "Hoyle's Games" in one hand and playing cards spilling from his coat pocket. In the upper left is the text: "I will now go home and look over Hoyle and calculate the odds in favor of my friend P----'s Faro Bank, in which he proposes to give me a d--n good interest." (Soliloquy of Sir Harry Bluff). Clay was a tireless opponent of Jackson and Van Buren's treasury program and an advocate of speculative and "soft money" interests. In the upper right is: "Now go home G-d D-n you where you belong." Spoken by H. Clay in the Hall of the House of Representatives after the vote on the contested "Mississippi Election." The harsh words were directed by Clay at Speaker of the House James K. Polk, after the latter cast the deciding vote invalidating the election of two pro-Whig representatives from Mississippi, Sergeant S. Prentiss and T.J. Ward.
Entered . . . 1838 by W. Chambers . . . Southern District of New York
The Library's impression of the print was deposited for copyright on November 2, 1838. The print is similar in format to Chambers's caricature of James Watson Webb, also entitled "Scene in Washington" (no. 1838-17).
Title appears as it is written on the item.
Weitenkampf, p. 55.
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 1838-16.