Cartoon Courtesy of the Library of Congress
This 1840 cartoon was published after Martin Van Buren’s term as the 8th VP (under Andrew Jackson). In his pouch are opponents of the Bank of the United States — Thomas Hart Benton, John C. Calhon, and Washington Globe editor Francis Preston Blair. At the time, Abraham Lincoln spoke of the banking industry, saying: “[It is predicted] that every state . . . will vote [to re-elect] Van Buren. . . . It may be true. . . . Many free countries have lost their liberty. . . . I know that the great volcano at Washington [is] aroused and directed by the evil spirit that reigns there, belching forth the lava of political corruption. . . .” However, Van Buren lost his bid for the presidency.
