---
title: '"The Grand National Fight" (Democratic print, 1856)'
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/grand-national-fight-buchanan-1856/
description: 'Boxing-ring cartoon of the three-way race billed as "2 against 1": a standing Buchanan has just floored Fillmore and squares off against Frémont, while…'
section: Collection
---

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

**Content note:** Dialect caricature of an Irish-American figure ('By Jabbers') and the period label 'wooly Hoss' for an antislavery politician, shown as published. This object is shown as it was published. [Why](https://propagandaarchive.org/about/#as-it-was)

[!["The Grand National Fight" (Democratic print, 1856)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/grand-national-fight-buchanan-1856.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/grand-national-fight-buchanan-1856.jpg)

# "The Grand National Fight" (Democratic print, 1856)

Boxing-ring cartoon of the three-way race billed as "2 against 1": a standing Buchanan has just floored Fillmore and squares off against Frémont, while Buchanan's own second at far left cheers "Old Bucky knocks 'em". The tells: Buchanan is shown winning before the vote (bandwagon) and the second at far right, on Frémont's side, urges him on as "wooly Hoss" (loaded label).

## Text on the object

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

```
By Jabbers but Old Bucky knocks'em [balloon, seconds-man at far left]

Look out now Young Mariposa for that hair on your face I will put on the Right when you least expect it! [balloon, Buchanan]

Come to time, Old Buck; I think I can lick a Democrat as old again as you are! [balloon, Frémont]

You see, Fremont, I'm down! There must be a good many drops of "Democratic Blood" in that arm of Old Buck's to strike such a stunning blow! [balloon, fallen Fillmore]

Go in wooly Hoss dont be afeard [balloon, seconds-man at far right]

THE GRAND NATIONAL FIGHT 2 AGAINST 1 FOUGHT ON THE 6th NOV. 1856
for One Hundred Thousand Dollars
Published by J. Childs 84 So 3rd St. Phila. [imprint, small and blurred in the scan]
```

Balloon wording is read from a 1536 px grayscale scan with some blur: "put on the Right" may read "put in the Right" (LOC transcribes "in"), and "afeard" is read as LOC does. Faint pencil names under the figures (Buchanan, Frémont, Fillmore) are library annotations, not part of the print.

[← "The Champions of Freedom" Frémont and Dayton banner (Buffalo, 1856)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/fremont-dayton-champions-of-freedom-1856/) ["The Great Presidential Sweepstakes of 1856" (Currier) →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/presidential-sweepstakes-fillmore-1856/)

## Using the same techniques

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- ["Jackson ticket" with Hickory tree motto, Baltimore (1828)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/jackson-ticket-hickory-tree-1828/) (United States · 1828 · Bandwagon, Transfer)
- [Democratic tickets, "Go it, ye Cripples!" and "Stop Van!!!" (Ohio electors, Van Buren and Johnson), 1836](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/democratic-ticket-stop-van-van-buren-1836/) (United States · 1836 · Name-calling, Bandwagon)
- [Democratic ticket, "Going the whole hog" (Ohio electors for Van Buren and Johnson), 1836](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/democratic-ticket-whole-hog-van-buren-1836/) (United States · 1836 · Bandwagon)
- ["Political race course - Union Track - fall races 1836"](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/political-race-course-union-track-harrison-1836/) (United States · 1836 · Bandwagon, Name-calling). Content note: Partisan caricature of named politicians that uses the epithet 'Black Dan' for Daniel Webster and regional stereotypes in the speech balloons.
- ["Grand match between the Kinderhook poney and the Ohio ploughman", April 1836](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/grand-match-kinderhook-poney-ohio-ploughman-harrison-1836/) (United States · Apr 1836 · Transfer, Bandwagon)
- ['The People's Line -- Take care of the Locomotive', Whig woodcut, 1840](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/peoples-line-take-care-of-the-locomotive-1840/) (United States · 1840 · Bandwagon)
- ['The Fox Chace', Whig cartoon of Van Buren hunted by cider-barrel hounds, 1840](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/the-fox-chace-van-buren-harrison-childs-1840/) (United States · 1840 · Name-calling, Bandwagon)