'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.
- Date
- 1840
- Period
- Pre-1914
- Made by
- John Childs, publisher, New York (LOC: possibly drawn by Edward Williams Clay)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Cartoon
- Issuer type
- Media
- Regime
- Van Buren Administration
- Leader
- Martin van Buren
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Demonize
- Event
- 1840 US Election
- Techniques
- Name-calling
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, retrieved October 2, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain: published 1840, US; LOC: "No known restrictions on publication."
Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, LC-USZ62-10481. LOC rights: "No known restrictions on publication."
Text on the object
[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.
