Content note: Caricature in which the grave-diggers are drawn with racialised features; period insults appear in the speech balloons. This object is shown as it was published. Why
"State Mining" Jackson campaign lithograph (1828)
Lithograph captioned STATE MINING: Jackson sits on a rock labelled ROCK OF AGES with the verse "Honor to the Man who fills the measure of his countries glory", flanked by riflemen, while men on the right dig under him with spades labelled for executed men and an official in a top hat pays them (LOC's summary identifies him as John Quincy Adams; no printed label names him). The sacred-rock title is transfer; the diggers' speech and the "poor Devils" retort are the labels.
- Date
- 1828
- Period
- Pre-1914
- Made by
- Jackson campaign supporters; lithograph signed M. Williams (LOC lists publisher Michael Williams)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Cartoon
- Issuer type
- Individual
- Leader
- John Quincy Adams
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Persuade or win support
- Event
- 1828 US Election
- Techniques
- TransferName-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 1828, US; LOC: "No known restrictions on publication."
Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, LC-DIG-ppmsca-94277 (call no. Unprocessed in PR 13 CN 2019:010)
Text on the object
STATE MINING. M. Williams Del. et Lith. ROCK OF AGES. Honor to the Man who fills the measure of his countries glory [Speech balloons, left to right] "I say Jack! do you see them Fellows trying to upset brave General Jackson, as they did our gallant Commodore Porter?" "[illegible] them they wont to cheat Uncle Sam again." "Dont mind the poor Devils, they can't move me." "General Dont you see those Fellows behind you? They are at their dirty work again. Perhaps the contents of this rifle would be of service to them." "I must rest a little, I shall work the harder after Dinner; but I dont like that damn'd fellow with his Rifle, he seems to know what is Trumps." "This is a harder job than I expected I shall never undermine him except they give me a better Spade." "Dig on my Boys or we will all get out of Job; I have got your pay under my arm, and in my pockets." [Labels on objects] Spade, left: [illegible] Militia Men Spade, centre: Military Chieftain Ambrister Paper held by the man at right: Secretary of State Office [illegible] Bag, left: Diplomatic Crumbs. Bag, right: Crumbs from the [illegible] Government. [illegible figures] for 22 Months. Rifle stock: [illegible]
Handwritten script lettering, read from a 5425 px master scan. Small labels on spades and bags are partly cut off or too faint and are marked [illegible]. Faint pencil notes at the top edge are library annotations, not part of the print.
