1844 Buoholzer Political Comic Broadside satirizing Polk, Clay, Calhoun, and Jackson

An extremely rare 1844 H. Bouholzer (Bucholear) editorial cartoon satirizing the fraught 1844 presidential election. It is part of a series of ephemeral political broadsides presented by Bouholzer and others over that election's central issue, the 'Texas Question,' or whether or not to support annexation.

Historical Context - the Texas Question

The main issue of the 1844 presidential election was the potential annexation of Texas, which was proposed to Congress by Sam Houston that year. In general, Democrats supported the idea, and the Whigs opposed it. With a staunchly anti-annexation anti-Texas stance, Henry Clay easily clinched the Whig nomination. The Democratic ticket was more complex. The long-standing favorite for the Democratic nomination was former president Martin van Buren, whose opinions on Texas vacillated. Influential powerbrokers, former president Andrew Jackson (1767 - 1845), the expansionist-minded senator Thomas Hart Benton (1782 - 1858), and former senator and presidential candidate John Calhoun (1782 - 1850) threw their support behind dark horse candidate James K. Polk (1795 - 1849). Although initially slow to build momentum, Polk's strong expansionist policies and support for Texas pushed him to the lead on the Democratic ticket and, by a narrow margin, into the presidency.

A Closer Look

This image presents the five main players in the 1844 election: the Democrats, James K. Polk, Andrew Jackson, Thomas Hart Benton, and John Calhoun, and the opposing Whig candidate, Henry Clay. The greasy poles represent the tickets of their respective parties, the Democrats and the Whigs. Clay has easily reached the top of a large pole and has the 'Civic Crown' in his grasp. By contrast, Polk is pushed and prodded by influential supporters Andrew Jackson (left) and Thomas Hart Benton, while John C. Calhoun (far left) watches aghast.

1844, A Lithographic Crescendo

1844 saw more lithographic single-sheet editorial cartoons published than in any previous year. Over 80 broadside prints address issues such as the Texan Revolution, the potential annexation of Texas (proposed in 1844), the slavery question, and the fraught 1844 election. The proliferation of political broadsides in 1844 was partly because of the heady political scene but also because advances in lithography made it possible to quickly and cheaply produce and distribute political imagery. Such images were sold through corner peddlers and bookshops, who, leaving a deposit, could collect a sheaf of leaflets each morning, selling them for about 15-25 cents, and at the end of the day, return any unsold pieces. They were, by their nature, ephemeral, made to be distributed and destroyed, so surviving examples are telling, rare, and significant.

Publication History and Census

This broadside leaflet was drawn by J. Bouholzer (Bucholear) and published by James Smith Baillie. This piece is rare. We are also aware of a variant entitled 'Polk in his Extremity' where both candidates climb the same pole. This was likely a later production meant to represent the general election (cf. Library of Congress, PC/US - 1844.B157, no. 27 (B size)). Rare. Although the Library of Congress has a comprehensive archive of 38 Bucholzer cartoons, this one appears to be missing. We do see examples at the New York Public Library and at the American Antiquarian Society, from which all digitized examples online are taken.