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Cutting Down the Hickory Tree and Disturbing the Crow's Nest
- Creator:
- Edward Williams Clay, John Childs
- Location:
- New York, NY
- Origin Date:
- 1840
- Materials:
- paper
- Measurements:
- overall: 18 1/2 in x 14 in
- Item ID:
- 71.2009.081.0616
- Holding Institution:
- Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection, courtesy of the Indiana State Museum
- Available for Viewing:
- No
- Category:
- Fine Art
Description
This lithograph is a political cartoon titled, "Cutting Down the Hickory Tree and Disturbing the Crow's Nest" published during the 1840 presidential campaign. It is a figurative portrayal of Whig opposition to the independent treasury or subtreasury system conceived by Jackson and implemented by Van Buren and the Democrats. In a large tree is a nest labeled "Sub Treasury" in which sits an alarmed hen, Andrew Jackson, who says, "Woodman spare that tree!! By the Eternal dont cut it down." Falling from the tree is a crow with Van Buren's head who exclaims, "I'll never trust to Hickory agin, but go and roost among the "Kabbitches" at Kinderhook." The tree is being felled by Harrison, who wields an axe labeled "Reform," and says, "I used to be a pretty good axe-man when I first lived in a log cabin! I think there's enough left of the old stuff yet to hew down this tree!" Henry Clay and Daniel Webster are pulling it down with a rope. Clay says: "Down with it! it has overshadowed the land long enough, and poisoned every thing with its noxious exhalations!" Webster says: "Pull together and down it must come!" The artist's initials EWC (Edward Williams Clay, 1799-1857) are printed in the lower left corner of the print. The publisher's information and the title are printed in the lower margin. Part of the Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection, courtesy of the Indiana State Museum