Henry Clay was a U.S. attorney and politician who represented Kentucky in congress and served as secretary of state under President John Quincy Adams. His opponents in the press used a ‘picture’ to draw attention to his failings.
The Americans are indeed a funny sort of people. The following is one of the many specimens of the numerous plans adopted by the newspapers opposed to the election of Henry Clay to the Presidential chair, and intended to ridicule him. There is a cut in the paper from which we copy it, representing Mr Clay’s coat of arms, with the words “shoot lower” across it, and “war, pestilence, and famine;” at one corner four or five playing cards, and at the opposite end a pistol cocked. At the head he is represented firing at his opponent, and a bottle in the centre of the assailant marked “brandy”.
(From The Lorain Republican.)
THE “EMBODYMENT.”
“Henry Clay, the living personification and embodiment of Whig principles.” Whig address. IN 1777 born: In 1805, quarrelled With Col. Davis of Kentucky, which led to his first duel: In 1808, he challenged Humphrey Marshall and fired three times at his heart: In 1825, he CHALLENGED the great John Randolph, and fired once at his heart, but without effect: In 1838, he planned the CHILLEY DUEL, by which A MURDER was perpetrated, AND a Wife made a MANIAC. In the year 1811, when 65 years old, and grey Headed, is under 5000 dollars BONDS to KEEP THE P EACE!! At the age of 29 he PERJURED HIMSELF to secure a Seat in the United States senate; and again, in 1824, he made an INFAMOUS BARGAIN with John Quincy Adams, by which HE SOLD OUT For a £1200 a year Office. He is also generally well known as a GAMBLER AND SABBATH BREAKER. His POLITICS are precisely and exactly those of the Hartford convention federalist: OPPOSED to EQUAL RIGHTS, EQUAL LAWS; and in favour of MONOPOLISING LAWS and chartered privileges. Also he sustains the ferocious Algerines in their deeds of BLOOD AND MURDER.
Stamford Mercury, 8th November, 1844.