American sympathy and Irish backguardism, Political Cartoon

A critical look at Irish Repeal movement leader Daniel O'Connell's condemnation of slavery in the United States. Clay portrays O'Connell's agitation against slavery as an affront to American friends of repeal, who contributed sizable amounts of money for "rent" to support the insurgent movement in Ireland. Conversely, Clay also portrays English-supported American abolitionists as inimical to repeal. In the cartoon is an effeminately dressed Robert Tyler, son and personal secretary to John Tyler, as well as a published poet and repeal advocate. Armed with his "Epitaph on Robert Emmet" (an earlier Irish patriot) and "Ahaseurus" (his religious poem, published in 1842) young Tyler presents O'Connell to his father. Robert Tyler proclaims, "Mr. O'Connell this is my Father, he is a great friend to repeal and when he is re elected he will give you his "mite." I am his Son and though I've got no money I've a great deal of Poetry in me--I have begun Robert Emmet's epitaph-from the sale of which I have no doubt I shall be able to send a large Army to Ireland." President Tyler, rising from his chair, says, "Welcome Mr. O'Connell! I'm just what Bobby says I am--I am all for repeal no halfway man but go the whole figure you jolly old Beggar." O'Connell wears knee-breeches and a hat decorated with a republican cockade and a clay pipe. He holds a club marked "Agitation" and a sack "Repale Rint" (i.e., "repeal rent"), and retorts, "Arrah! give up your Slaves I'd rather shake hands wid a pick-pocket than wid a Slave Holder, and if we ge our repale we'll set em all free before you can say Pathernoster--I dont want any of your blood-stained money!" An abolitionist resembling William Lloyd Garrison, with a document "Petition to Tyler to emancipate his slaves" under his arm, touches O'Connell's shoulder. He reassures the Irishman, "Friend Daniel, we will join you in all your views. your cause and ours is one only we dont want to meddle with Irish repeal for fear we may lose our English friends." On the left a black house slave standing beside Tyler's chair adds "By jolly I wish Massa Harry Clay [Kentucky senator Henry Clay] was here--Dis dam low Irishman not dare talk to him dat way!"