"Soliciting a vote" (1852 campaign cartoon, drawn before the Democratic nomination)
Four politicians (Webster, Houston, Douglas and Scott in uniform) crowd a short, wide-eyed voter, each pressing his ticket on him; a whip is held in Webster's hand with its lash trailing past the voter (LOC says the voter holds it), and the wall at right is labelled 'DEM.' and 'WHIG.'. The speech boxes pair high-sounding phrases ('Serve my beloved Country') with money and conquest boasts ('$25,000 a year', 'lick all Europe'); the tell is the gap between the virtue words and the stated interest. Neutral: Whig and Democratic aspirants are mocked alike.
- Date
- 1852
- Period
- Pre-1914
- Made by
- Unnamed publisher (LOC: probably drawn by John L. Magee)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Issuer type
- Media
- Regime
- Fillmore Administration
- Leader
- Millard Fillmore
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Persuade or win support
- Event
- 1852 US Election
- Techniques
- Glittering generalities
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- Library of Congress, retrieved October 2, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain: published 1852, US; LOC rights: "No known restrictions on publication."
Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division
Text on the object
SOLICITING A VOTE. [Speech box, Webster:] My honest friend, these men are interested parties, I have no further interest in this matter myself, than the inclination to "Serve my "beloved Country," My Family cannot subsist on less than 25,000 $ a year. [Speech box, Houston:] This is the "Ticket" for you, my good friend, I am "Old Sam Houston" if elected I shall not only "lick all Europe", but all "Creation" to boot . [Speech box, Douglas:] There, there; go away, away, dont worry the man, leave him to me, leave him to me. [Speech box, Scott:] My good Friend, allow me to present you this Ticket, I am "Old Genl. Scott" you know me, I licked the British & the Mexicans, if elected I shall probably lick all Europe. [On the wall at right:] DEM. WHIG. [On the tickets and coat:] Houston. Webster Douglas Scott [Names under the figures:] Webster. Houston. Douglas. Scott.
The quotation marks around 'Serve my beloved Country' are partly doubled in the print; reproduced as best read. The red 'MICROFILMED' stamp and the handwritten number at lower right are library marks, not part of the object.
