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Whig Songs: Clay and Frelinghuysen

Whig Songs: Clay and Frelinghuysen image
Parent Issue
Day
10
Month
June
Year
1844
Copyright
Public Domain
Additional Text

Excerpt from a campaign song titled "Clay and Frelinghuysen" written by John Greiner for Henry Clay, a Whig Party candidate in the 1844 presidential election, and his running mate Theodore Frelinghuysen. Whigs were known as "coons" and Democrats as "Loco focos.” Modeled after a popular blackface minstrelsy song “Old Dan Tucker.” For an antislavery adaptation of the same song, see “Get Off the Track.”

OCR Text

e The Whigs say that their opponent n find fault with them lor singing songs.- This may be true of some, but it cannc be the case with sensible men. We hav ' repeatedly adverted to these Whig pro ductions, but we have never said uugh P agafnst their wviting, printing, orsioginj d political songs. A good song, in its place p is appropriate, and ' often do mucf p good. p Bnt our exceptions have been taken t thê nature of thóse songs which the Whig; so much admire, and which are counte nanced by the intelligent men of the party. As a specimen of what we mean. , we extract the following, which was pre, pared expressly for the National Whig Convention, and sung there with greal i acceptance. We also wish to put it on record as a curiosity forthonext half century. TvxB-"Old Dan Tucker." The .kies are brig-ht, our hearts are light? In B'ikimore the Whigs unite; We'll so.i ouf songs to g-ood old tunes, Tltere's iniisjc in these same oíd Coon, Hurra, Iiurra ! for the Ccons are riing! Hurm, hurra! for the Corr nre nsing! Hurra, hurm! for tho Oooiw are risitior For Hbnry Clay and Freli'ghuysen! The Locos' he.rts nre very sore - Thoupli very scnrce in BItimoie - For thev bepin lo thmk with reason, Tlmt t)is will be a greal coon season! Hurro, &c. Now Let the Locos raise tbeir dander - E'en AmosKendalJ daré notsíander Kor when they get into the ñghl, Lord! liow the Jersey coons willbite! Hurra, &c. Tlie Coon now looks abrond with pride For who is there dare touch bis hide? Sogivfcthree cheers and as many more, For thenoble Whigs of BaJiimore! Hurra. &:c. ■ Says the Bangor Gazette, these appeals to the lowest vulgarity of human nature - this belittling of men and principies by comparing themto the low cunningand thieving propensitiesofthe Raccoón - or his complacency when overlooking a field of green-corn,is small business. The name of Frelinghuysen is issociated in the minds of those who know him with sentiments of elevated philanthropy and patriotism; yet the Presiient the American Board of Cornmissonersfor Foreign Missions is suddenly ïxalted to be the hero of a coon fight; md his highest praise is that he will look iround wiih pride. bite hard, and preserve . lis skin entirs!