---
title: '"''Buck'' taking the ''Pot''" (Currier, 1856)'
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/buck-taking-pot-buchanan-1856/
description: Card-game cartoon in which Buchanan, holding four aces and a cauldron of "Union Soup", claims the winnings while Frémont lies tripped on a "Rock of…
section: Collection
---

[Collection](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/)

[!["'Buck' taking the 'Pot'" (Currier, 1856)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/buck-taking-pot-buchanan-1856.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/buck-taking-pot-buchanan-1856.jpg)

# "'Buck' taking the 'Pot'" (Currier, 1856)

Card-game cartoon in which Buchanan, holding four aces and a cauldron of "Union Soup", claims the winnings while Frémont lies tripped on a "Rock of Disunion" and a blindfolded Fillmore says 'BUCK wins, and I am satisfied'. The tells: the rivals are shown conceding before any vote is counted (bandwagon); the rivals are tagged with "Disunion" and "Abolition" labels (loaded labels); and the winner's speech is built on "glorious UNION" (virtue words in place of a claim).

## Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
I have fairly beaten them at their own game, and now that I have became possessed of this great Reservoir I will see that each and EVERY STATE of this great and glorious UNION receives its proper Share of this sacred food. [balloon, Buchanan at left]

I regret to say that "GOING IT BLIND" is a loosing Game; I did hope that I would be able to dip my spoon in the POT without much difficulty.— My HAND is played out— "BUCK" wins, and I am satisfied.— Four aces can't be beat! and BUCK holds them.— [balloon, blindfolded figure at right]

Oh, that I had been born a dog!— This is too much for mortal man to bear. Had I not stumbled over that BLASTED rock, I might have reached the fount of my ambition and with this good ladle "DEAL" to the North, and leave the South to "SHUFFLE & CUT" off their mortal coil, by starvation, I shall have to "PASS".— [balloon, fallen figure]

UNION SOUP [on the cauldron]
ROCK OF DISUNION [on the rock]
[illegible: word on the spoon handle]
"BUCK" taking the "POT".
For Sale at N° 2 Spruce St N.Y.
```

Read from a 1536 px grayscale scan. Faint pencil names under the figures (Buchanan, Frémont, Fillmore) are library annotations. The word on the fallen figure's spoon handle is too small to read with confidence (LOC's summary gives "Abolition").

[← "The Balls Are Rolling - Clear the Track" (Currier, 1856)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/balls-rolling-fremont-1856/) ["The Champions of Freedom" Frémont and Dayton banner (Buffalo, 1856) →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/fremont-dayton-champions-of-freedom-1856/)

## Using the same techniques

- [Behistun (Bisotun) rock relief and trilingual inscription of Darius I: the king, two attendants and the bound rebel leaders beneath the winged figure of Ahuramazda](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/behistun-relief-darius-and-rebels-521bce/) (Achaemenid Empire · 0000 · Card stacking, Name-calling, Testimonial). Content note: Shows bound captives before the king, and the inscription records the mutilation and public execution of rebel leaders, as the king's own account.
- [Passional Christi und Antichristi: the emperor kisses the pope's foot (leaf 'Antichristus')](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/passional-christi-antichristi-emperor-kisses-pope-1521/) (Electoral Saxony · 1521 · Name-calling, Card stacking)
- [Anacoana fut pendue sans raison (engraving in Le miroir de la cruelle et horrible tyrannie espagnole)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/anacoana-hanged-miroir-tyrannie-espagnole-1620/) (Dutch Republic · 1620 · Fear appeal, Name-calling). Content note: Engraving of a hanged, bare-breasted Taino woman, burning huts and people being killed by Spanish soldiers.
- [Ondersoeckt de Geesten, ofse van den Duyvel syn, of niet (the De Witt brothers as devils)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/ondersoeckt-de-geesten-de-witt-devils-1672/) (Dutch Republic · 1672 · Scapegoating, Name-calling)
- [The Highlanders Medley, or The Duke Triumphant (A Loyal Song)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/highlanders-medley-duke-triumphant-1746/) (Great Britain · 1746 · Name-calling, Transfer)
- [The North Briton, No. XLV, 23 April 1763 (John Wilkes), opening page](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/north-briton-no-45-wilkes-1763/) (Kingdom of Great Britain · Apr 23, 1763 · Name-calling)
- [The Bloody Massacre perpetrated in King Street Boston on March 5th 1770 by a party of the 29th Regt.](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/revere-bloody-massacre-king-street-1770/) (Province of Massachusetts Bay · Mar 1770 · Name-calling, Card stacking). Content note: Hand-coloured engraving of bloodied dead and wounded colonists after soldiers fired on a crowd.
- [Marche du Dom Quichotte moderne pour la deffence du Moulin des Abus (March of the Modern Don Quixote in Defence of the Mill of Abuses)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/dom-quichotte-moulin-des-abus-1791/) (France · 1791 · Name-calling, Transfer)