Things as they are,1849 Gold Rush,California,Braxton Bragg,James K Polk,Taylor

Title: Things as they are
Related Names:
Elton, Robert N.
Perkins, S. Lee.
Serrell, Henry.
Date Created/Published: N.Y. : Henry Serrell & S. Lee Perkins Lith & Pub, 1849.
Summary: Perkins's grim picture of conditions in the goldfields of California during the 1849 Gold Rush contains a backhanded swipe at the outgoing Polk administration. In the foreground, violence breaks out against a backdrop of hills in the 'Gold Region.' On the left a man cuts the throat of another over a sack of gold, while beyond and farther to the left appear a man carrying a sack and another fallen victim. At far right two men spar with daggers, one of them evidently a Mexican or Spanish Californian, who declares, 'Clear you D--d Foreigner our law is the law of might.' Meanwhile, apparently oblivious to the mayhem, other men go about the search for gold. A man with a kerchief around his forehead calmly sifts a pan over a barrel or tub. Behind him another man with a flintlock slung across his back digs into the side of a small rise, and a third, wearing a smock, shovels ore into a wooden sieve. Visible above, beyond the hills, is the U.S. Capitol, on whose lawn stands newly elected President Zachary Taylor. In uniform with his hands behind his back, Taylor watches former President James K. Polk and five of his officers, in the form of birds, fly away toward California. They are armed with pickaxes and the spoils of office. Polk, in the lead, carries a sack marked 'Secret Service 3,000,000 [i.e., dollars]' and declares, 'The happiest days of my administration. We will take unto ourselves the wings of the morning and depart into the depths of California.' Taylor addresses a man who aims a cannon at the flock of birds, 'Hold on Capt Bragg 'Dont' waste your G`rape.' it is nothing but a 'Shide-Polk.' Our extra Session shall regulate 'California.'' These lines echo his famous and decisive order at the Battle of Buena Vista, 'A little more grape Captain Bragg.' Bragg responds, 'As you say General but by G-d! I'd like to make him smell of Buena-Vista.' Nearby is the 'High Road to California' and a grave marker reading, 'In Memory of the Shide-'Poke' Administration. Died 4 M[ar]ch 1849,' the customary inauguration date.
Notes:
Henry Serrell & S. Lee Perkins Lith & Pub 75 Nassau St. N.Y.
Signed: Perkins
Sold by Robert H. Elton 90 Nassau St. N.Y.
Title appears as it is written on the item.
Weitenkampf, p. 98.
Forms part of: American cartoon print filing series (Library of Congress)
Published in: American political prints, 1766-1876 / Bernard F. Reilly. Boston : G.K. Hall, 1991, entry 1849-3.
Subjects:
Bragg, Braxton,--1817-1876.
Polk, James K.--(James Knox),--1795-1849.
Taylor, Zachary,--1784-1850.
United States Capitol (Washington, D.C.)--1840-1850.
California--1840-1850.
Mexico--1840-1850.
Lithographs--1840-1850.
Political cartoons--1840-1850.
Bookmark /2008661518/
Description of Photograph
This is an 8x12 inch Reproduction Photograph made from a high quality scan of the original.

Size
Approximately 8x12 inches.
Note:  Some images may have white/black bars on the sides or top if the original image does not conform to the 8x12 dimensions.

Want to purchase the Original?
The original is not for sale.

Return Policy
We are so confident in the quality we provide that we back every order with a money-back guarantee! This means if you are not satisfied, for ANY reason, a refund will be given.(No need to return the photo)

Quality
This Photograph is a Archive Quality Reproduction created directly from the original photograph. Our laboratory uses premium paper guaranteeing brighter colors, sharper whites, and prints that will last a lifetime.

Shipping
We have taken extra steps to ensure that your prints arrive to you safely and undamaged. We use extra thick, stay-flat envelopes to get your photos to you as quickly and as safely as possible.