In this contemporary
political cartoon,
"true Whigs" (left) enjoy their hard
cider,
while "ruffled shirt Matty" (center)
loses
himself in the "feminine pleasures"
of opium.
Meanwhile, the undecided voter
(right)
is taking a leak for some
reason
Historians say the
1840
campaign is the first 'modern
day' election. It was the first
election for buttons, pins, fireworks,
name calling and political caricatures.
Brownlow's Whig
Jonesboro,
Tennessee
NEGRO
SPEAKING!
We have just
learned, upon undoubtedle authority, that Gen. Combs, in his attempt to
address the citizens of Sullivan County, on yesterday, was insulted,
contradicted repeatedly, limited to one hour and a half, and most
shamefully treated, and withall an effort was made, to get an impudent
Malungeon from Washington Cty, a scoundrel who is half Negro and
half
Indian, and who has actually been speaking in Sullivan, in reply to
Combs! Gen. Combs, however, declined the honor of contending with
Negroes and Indians - said he had fought against the latter, but never
met them in debate!
This is the party, reader, who are opposed to the gag-law, and to
abolition! Bigotry and democracy in Sullivan county, well knowing that
their days on earth are numbered, are rolling together their clouds of
blackness and darkness, in the person of a free negroe, with the
forlorn hope of obscuring the light that is beaming in glory, and a
gladness, upon this country, through the able and eloquent speeches of
Whig orators. David Shaver replied to Gen. Combs, we are informed. This
is the same Davy, Mr. Netherland gave an account of, some time since,
and who, Col. James gave us the history of, in an address, at our late
convention. When Davy had finished, the big Democratic Negro came
forward, and entertained the brethren. These two last speakers were an
entertaining pair!
(microfilm - Brownlow's Whig reel 2, McClung Collection, Knoxville, TN)
Thanks to Kevin Mullins
Brownlow's
Whig
October
21, 1840
Well when the hour arrived,
Hall and the Indian Negro rode up together, and behind them, a
short distance, was McClellan and ''Show Miller" Shaver -- the Locos
did not say which of these four worthies were to speak. Senter
spoke, and handled the 'Negro,' who it seemed, had been eating,
sleeping, and riding with these, his brethern, "his kinsman according
to politics!"
Brownlow's
Whig
October
28
Reprinted
from the Tennessee
Mirror
With astonishment we have
understood that a half Negro, and half Indian has been speaking to the
citizens of Sullivan on the subject of politics! This surely is a
great insult, and ought not to be tolerated, by any honest man in the
Union. Surely this is exaggeration, and cannot be!
What! A
NEGRO lecture on enlightened community! It cannot be!
Brownlow's
Whig
We can assure the editor of
the "Mirror," that an infamous Negro has been speaking in Sullivan
County -- no mistake, for we have seen and conversed with several
gentlemen who seen and heard the vile scamp. And he was put up by
the DEMOCRATIC party, and by that party sustained, and now apologized
for, on the ground of his having some Indian blood in him, and having
been raised by JACKSON!
"Finally, on November 4, and
as the election neared, Brownlow printed his last attack, "Keep It
Before The People," drawn from this incident. In the two
paragraph column, the malicious slanders directed toward the poor
fellow, and thereby the Democrtatic Party, are unrelenting and included
"an impudent FREE NEGRO," "this infamous and dissipated MULATTO," this
vile NEGRO -- this KINKY HEADED villian," "an infamous,
insulting, and strange free Negro, or runaway slave?" as well as
others. Adding a touch of ridicule with reprimand, Brownlow
concluded by noting that Democratic gentlemen in
the southern parts of
Virginia had driven this mixed-breed from the region."
Brownlow's
Whig
November 4, 1840
In Sullivan, however, he met
with a hearty welcome! There, they ate, rode, and slept with him;
and one of the leaders of that party, furnished him with ARMS to defend
himself against the insults of WHITE MEN who might chance to prove so
refractory, as not to hear him speak! Shame on the leaders of
this party in old Sullivan.
SOURCE: "THE MYSTEROUS
MELUNGEONS: A CRITIQUE OF THE MYTHICAL IMAGE"
Melanie Sovine
1982