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Editorial
July 6, 1835
Lynchburg Virginian
Lynchburg, Virginia
What is this article about?
Satirical editorial mocks the production and distribution of cheap biographies of Martin Van Buren and Richard M. Johnson by government-affiliated figures to sway German voters in elections, questioning funding and motives.
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Full Text
THE BIOGRAPHIES.
The country is about to be flooded with Biographies, of Martin Van Buren and Richard M. Johnson, done up by Poet Emmons, of epic celebrity, and an employee in one of the Departments at Washington—
"A wretch, foredoom'd his father's soul to cross
And pen a stanza, when he should engross,"—
corrected and revised by Benj. Franklin Butler, Esq. Attorney General of the United States, who can find time, amidst the laborious duties of his office, thus to interfere with the freedom of elections. It being necessary, however, to win over the German population of Pennsylvania, Ohio, &c. Poet Emmons' work is to be done into Dutch, for the exclusive benefit!
The beauty of it is, that the work is to be "published" (query?) with portraits of the hero of two wars, the little magician, & "Rumpsey Dumpsey who killed Tecumsch; the whole for $1, which we are assured will be the value of the engravings only. If this be so, who pays, Poet Emmons for writing, Francis J. Grund, Esq. for translating, Blair & Rives for printing, and somebody else for binding the Biographies? Does it come out of the contingent fund, or are the office holders to be levied upon for contributions?
The country is about to be flooded with Biographies, of Martin Van Buren and Richard M. Johnson, done up by Poet Emmons, of epic celebrity, and an employee in one of the Departments at Washington—
"A wretch, foredoom'd his father's soul to cross
And pen a stanza, when he should engross,"—
corrected and revised by Benj. Franklin Butler, Esq. Attorney General of the United States, who can find time, amidst the laborious duties of his office, thus to interfere with the freedom of elections. It being necessary, however, to win over the German population of Pennsylvania, Ohio, &c. Poet Emmons' work is to be done into Dutch, for the exclusive benefit!
The beauty of it is, that the work is to be "published" (query?) with portraits of the hero of two wars, the little magician, & "Rumpsey Dumpsey who killed Tecumsch; the whole for $1, which we are assured will be the value of the engravings only. If this be so, who pays, Poet Emmons for writing, Francis J. Grund, Esq. for translating, Blair & Rives for printing, and somebody else for binding the Biographies? Does it come out of the contingent fund, or are the office holders to be levied upon for contributions?
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
Partisan Politics
What keywords are associated?
Van Buren Biography
Johnson Biography
Poet Emmons
Election Influence
German Voters
Political Funding
What entities or persons were involved?
Martin Van Buren
Richard M. Johnson
Poet Emmons
Benj. Franklin Butler
Francis J. Grund
Blair & Rives
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Satirical Critique Of Politically Motivated Biographies Of Van Buren And Johnson
Stance / Tone
Mocking And Critical Of Election Interference Through Biased Publications
Key Figures
Martin Van Buren
Richard M. Johnson
Poet Emmons
Benj. Franklin Butler
Francis J. Grund
Blair & Rives
Key Arguments
Country To Be Flooded With Biographies Of Van Buren And Johnson By Poet Emmons And A Washington Employee
Revised By Attorney General Butler Despite His Duties
Translated Into Dutch To Win German Voters In Pennsylvania And Ohio
Published Cheaply With Portraits For $1, Questioning True Value And Funding Sources
Suspected Funding From Contingent Fund Or Office Holder Contributions