Troubled Treasures
date: label: Date made
content: 1833
name: label: depicted
content: Jackson, Andrew
label: depicted
content: Clay, Henry
label: originated character
content: Smith, Seba
label: maker
content: Bisbee, Ezra
notes: label: Description (Brief)
content: This 1833 print is a commentary on President Andrew Jackson’s desire to revoke the charter of the Second National Bank of America. He believed the National Bank was unconstitutional and against the interests of the common man, but his many opponents in Congress disagreed. One of his biggest opponents during the so called Bank War, was Henry Clay, depicted in this print seated behind a table labeled “Clay & Co’s Highly-Approved Congress Water,” and holding a bottle in his hand. Next to Clay, is Jackson, doubled over and vomiting the words, “Veto,” “Responsibility,” and “Message.” To the left of Jackson, is fictional character, Major Jack Downing who states, “I kinder hinted to the Jineral I’gestd Congress Water and Responsibility wouldn’t agree on his stomach.” Created by journalist Seba Smith, the allegorical persona of Downing is often used to show the strong influence of the common man in Jackson’s decision making. Clay responds to Downing, “Tis good… it will bring forth Offensive matter.” Such offensive matter includes the devil, who is seen behind Jackson, holding a sack labeled “U.S. Treasures $28,000,000.”Beneath the print in fine script, is an advertising pitch for the “Congress Water,” speaking to the “beneficial effects” of the liquid.
label: Description (Brief)
content: The lithographer of this print is Ezra Bisbee (1820-1856). Bisbee was a political cartoonist and print maker based in New York City and Brooklyn as well as on the island of Antigua.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: New York, New York City
topic: label: Subject
content: Furnishings
label: Subject
content: Economy
label: Subject
content: Drinking
label: Subject
content: U.S. National Government, executive branch
label: Subject
content: U.S. National Government, legislative branch
label: Subject
content: Political Parties
label: Subject
content: Glasses
label: Subject
content: Political Caricatures
label: depicted
content: Jack Downing
setName: label: See more items in
content: Home and Community Life: Domestic Life
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content: Clothing & Accessories
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content: Peters Political Prints
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content: Art
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content: Domestic Furnishings
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Harry T. Peters "America on Stone" Lithography Collection
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: DL.60.3390
label: catalog number
content: 60.3390
objectType: label: Object Name
content: Lithograph
label: Object Type
content: Lithograph
physicalDescription: label: Measurements
content: image: 8 1/4 in x 13 1/16 in; 20.955 cm x 33.17875 cm