The people putting responsibility to the test or the downfall of the kitchen cabinet and collar presses

A prediction of dire consequences to follow from Jackson's withdrawal of federal funds from the Bank of the United States, initiated late in 1833. The artist is harshly critical of Jackson's move to distribute federal treasury funds among several state or so-called "pet" banks. He also condemns the influence of both Jackson's informal circle of advisors, the "Kitchen Cabinet," and the newspapers friendly to the Administration, the "Collar Presses." Jackson declared his own personal "responsibility" for the controversial order to remove the feredal deposits from the Bank. Here a mob of farmers, laborers, and tradesmen riot, holding papers saying "Broken Bank," and shouting "Send back the deposites! Recharter the Bank!" and "Come back old responsibility." They pursue Jackson, who flees to the right carried on the back of Jack Downing. Jackson: "By the Eternal Major Downing; I find Ive been a mere tool to that Damn'd Amos [Kendall] and his set, the sooner I cut stick the better." Downing: "I told you I'd get you off Jinral but it will be a tarnel tight squeeze I guess." In the center Thomas Ellicott and Reuben Whitney, anti-Bank fiscal advisors to the administration, try to pull down the statue of Justice (here labeled "Supreme Court") resting on a pedestal "Constitution." A man in judge's robes, Supreme Court Justice John Marshall, warns "Miscreants forbear, the day of retribution is at hand and Justice shall be no longer set at defiance!" Five dogs, representing newspapers supportive of Jackson's program, including the "Globe, Albany Argus, Evening Post, Standard," and "Journal of Commerce" scamper away with their collars chained together. These are called "Collar Presses, " a derisive nickname playing on their status as newspapers or "presses" subservient to the administration. On the far left Henry Clay tells Daniel Webster and John Calhoun, "Behold Senators the fulfilment of my predictions!" Below them two blacks converse: "Hurrah Bob two or three more rows like dis and nigger free, for there will be no more Goberment." "Hurrah! for Massa Garison [i.e. abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison], den he shall be King!" On a step at lower left a sailor offers a Jewish broker a ten dollar bank-note. Sailor: "I say Moses give us some ballast for this here bit of rag." Banker: "Mine Got that ish one of the Pet Bankhs I'll give you one Dollar for the Ten."

calhoun john c john caldwell ellicott thomas garrison william lloyd jackson andrew kendall amos constitution bank of the united states abolition movement economic policy justice kitchen cabinet lithographs political cartoons people responsibility test downfall kitchen cabinet collar presses supreme court vintage images 1834 prints 19th century images of kitchen kabinets senator henry clay us supreme court statue united states history library of congress

01/01/1834

Library of Congress

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