Keywords: RunningtheMachine-LincAdmin.jpg ;Title Running the machine ;Summary A scathing attack on the ineptness and military ineffectualness of the Lincoln administration The cartoon derives its title from an indiscreet letter written by secretary of war Edwin McMasters Stanton to past President James Buchanan immediately following the Union army's defeat at the Battle of Bull Run Stanton wrote The imbecility of this Administration culminated in that catastrophe Bull Run and irretrievable misfortune and national disgrace never to be forgotten are to be added to the ruin of all peaceful pursuits and national bankruptcy as the result of Mr Lincoln's `running the machine' for five months William Pitt Fessenden far left cranks out greenbacks from Chase's Patent Greenback Mill Fessenden succeeded Salmon P Chase as Treasury secretary He says glaring at the figures seated around the table These are the greediest fellows I ever saw With all my exertions I cant satisfy their pocket though I keep the Mill going day and night Seated at the table clockwise from top left are Stanton Lincoln secretary of state William H Seward Navy secretary Gideon Welles and two unidentified contractors At left a messenger hands an envelope to Stanton announcing Mr Secretary here is a dispatch We have captured one prisoner and one gun; a great Victory Elated over this minuscule achievement Stanton exclaims Ah well Telegraph to General Dix Union general John A Dix immediately Meanwhile Lincoln is guffawing because he is reminded of a capital joke See The Commander-in-Chief Conciliating the Soldiers Votes no 1864-31 for the allusion Seward with a bell in one hand hands an envelope Fort Lafayette to a young officer or cadet saying Officer I am told that Snooks has called me Humbug'--Take this warrant and put him in Fort lafayette--I'll teach him to speak against the Government Seward was criticized for arbitrarily arresting civilians and incarcerating them in federal prison at Fort Lafayette Beside Seward Gideon Welles ineptly works out a problem They say the Tallahasse sails 24 miles an hour --Well then we'll send 4 Gunboats after her that can sail 6 miles an hour and that will just make enough to catch her At center bottom the two contractors ask for more greenbacks LOC-image cph 3a11882 Created/Published New York Published by Currier Ives 152 Nassau St N Y c1864 Medium 1 print on wove paper lithograph ; image 27 x 35 cm Cameron John b ca 1828 artist PD-old page was on en wikipedia http //en wikipedia org/w/index php title Special Log page File RunningtheMachine-LincAdmin jpg log All following user names refer to en wikipedia 2007-04-26 01 46 Grenavitar 1536×1124×8 195867 bytes <nowiki>better quality version I did this in paint but someone should be able to do a good job from the TIFF linked this is only 'better' </nowiki> 2006-12-26 22 33 The Mystery Man 579×430×8 72925 bytes <nowiki> PD-LOC http //hdl loc gov/loc pnp/cph 3a11882</nowiki> Caricatures of Abraham Lincoln William H Seward William P Fessenden Abolitionists United States Secretaries of the Navy Political cartoons United States in the 1860s Money in art Edwin McMasters Stanton |