Content note: Speech balloons contain anti-Catholic and nativist wording ('the ruins of Popery') in the mouths of the Whig figures, written by a Democratic cartoonist and shown unaltered. This object is shown as it was published. Why
Tyrants Prostrate, Liberty Triumphant (pro-Polk cartoon on Dorr), 1844
Cartoon set in Thomas Dorr's prison cell: Polk and Dallas clasp hands beside the chained Dorr, while Clay, Frelinghuysen (in clerical robes) and Webster speak lines of aristocracy and of uniting church and state "on the ruins of Popery". Tells: "Tyrants" and "Aristocracy" as labels for the opponents (name-calling); a staged threat of church-state union (fear appeal).
- Date
- 1844
- Period
- Pre-1914
- Made by
- Drawn by H. Bucholzer; lithographed and published by James Baillie, New York
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Cartoon
- Issuer type
- Media
- Regime
- Tyler Administration
- Leader
- John Tyler
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Persuade or win support
- Event
- 1844 US Election
- Techniques
- Name-callingFear appeal
- 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 1844, US; LOC rights note: "No known restrictions on publication."
Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C. (item 2008661420)
Text on the object
[Angel with trumpet:] Speed the sound O'er all your plains The Martyr's freed from shameful chains! Around his brow will freemen twine A glorious wreath of myrtle vine! Our Polk obey the people's call; The Tyrant sees his shackles fall! And every son of liberty Shout long live Dorr the great the Free! [Balloon, Dallas:] As sure as a God of Justice rules on high he will be free. [Balloon, Polk:] The people will speak in tones of thunder yet, they brook no old Kings charter, to enchain true Patriots! [Balloon, Dorr:] The process of this Court does not reach the man within, From this sentence of the Court I appeal to the People of our State and our Country! [Balloon, Clay:] Alas! alas! when Dorr is free King Charles charter will be destroyed, and with it the last British form of Government in these States. and the last hope of our Aristocracy for the people will have triumphed ! [Balloon, Frelinghuysen:] Ah my master say not so for then Church and State will never be united ! [Balloon, Webster:] Yes they will If we join the American Party, and raise a Protestant succession on the ruins of Popery. Tariff Dallas Polk Dorr Clay Frelinghuysen Webster Lith of & Pub.d by J. Baillie 118 Nassau St N.Y. Entered according to Act of Congress in in the Year 1844 by J. Baillie in the Clerks Office in the Dt. Court of the So. Destrect of N.Y. TYRANTS PROSTRATE LIBERTY TRIUMPHANT.
The first letter of the lower-left imprint is cut by the plate edge. "Destrect" is as printed. Speaker labels in brackets are assigned from the position of each balloon's tail and the printed name labels beneath the figures; they are not printed in the balloons.
