---
title: '''Going up Salt River'', Van Buren-friendly cartoon published by John Childs, 1840'
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/going-up-salt-river-van-buren-childs-1840/
description: Van Buren stands on the bank wishing 'a quick voyage' to Harrison, drawn as a donkey with a hard-cider barrel tied to its tail and Clay, Webster and Wise…
section: Collection
---

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

[!['Going up Salt River', Van Buren-friendly cartoon published by John Childs, 1840](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/going-up-salt-river-van-buren-childs-1840.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/going-up-salt-river-van-buren-childs-1840.jpg)

# 'Going up Salt River', Van Buren-friendly cartoon published by John Childs, 1840

Van Buren stands on the bank wishing 'a quick voyage' to Harrison, drawn as a donkey with a hard-cider barrel tied to its tail and Clay, Webster and Wise riding him. The tell is the label-by-image: Harrison pictured as a donkey who says 'I feel very much-like a donkey!', with the Whig leaders as his riders.

## Text on the object

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

```
[Van Buren:] Gentlemen I wish you a quick voyage, take care you dont spill your valuable cargo!
[Harrison:] I feel very much-like a donkey!
[Clay:] I'm content!
[Webster:] I say Wise do you think we have enough hard cider to last us to the Hedd of Navigation!
[Wise:] Oh Webster dont be frightened we have plenty lashed on to the stern.... What say you Clay?
[Barrel:] Hard Cider
[Names under the figures:] Van Buren   Harrison   Clay   Webster   Wise
GOING UP SALT RIVER.
Published by John Childs 90 Nassau St.
```

Read from the 1536 x 1167 px LOC master. Speaker attributions in square brackets follow the printed name labels and the LOC description; they are not printed. Printed 'much-like' as it appears.

[← 'Federal-Abolition-Whig Trap, to Catch Voters In', New Orleans broadside, 1840](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/anti-whig-log-cabin-trap-broadside-new-orleans-1840/) ['This log cabin was the first building erected on the North Bend', Whig print by T. Sinclair, 1840 →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/harrison-north-bend-log-cabin-sinclair-1840/)

## 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)