Sheet music of minstrel airs supporting James G. Birney's candidacy like this fragment were distributed by New York abolitionist Elizur Wright, whose son also wrote an "Ode to Birney." James G. Birney Presidential Candidacy in 1844 Backed by Minstrel Airs
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President Obama caused a stir recently when he sang a few bars from a popular tunester. Sales of Green's music immediately shot up nearly 500 percent, attesting to the power of music.
Obama quietly mouthed a few phrases from Al Green's song, "Let's Stay Together," that he had delivered earlier at the same site, New York's Apollo Theatre.
'I'm,' Mr Obama began the song with a slight vibrato in his voice, 'I'm so in love with you,' hitting the high notes gingerly before his cheering New York audience.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2093451/Al-Green-sales-skyrocket-Obamas-impromptu-song.html#ixzz1ksiDnFIB
Whether that tune will become the symbolic music of the Obama campaign of 2012 remains to be seen, but a look back at the part of music in American Presidential election campaigns may be an interesting exercise.
When James G. Birney ran for President on the third party Liberty ticket in 1844, part of the campaign was carried along on the tunes of popular airs.
A few examples of these obscure musical pieces have survived the 168 years since the less than memorable campaign of 1844 pitting Henry Clay against James K. Polk, with Birney the nation's first anti-slavery Presidential candidate and the eventual wild card.
History scarcely has recorded that Mr. Birney was a resident of Lower Saginaw, Michigan, a Saginaw County hamlet of a handful of families later to be known as Bay City.
The Northern Illinois University (NIU) has conducted a digitization project documenting the songs of the various election campaigns, dating back to the start of the two party system in 1800.
Many of the campaign songs did not mention Birney or his running Mate Thomas Morris of Ohio but rather focused on the movement to end slavery.
From "Wind of the Winter night."
Heard ye that cry! Twas the wail of a slave, As he sank in despair, to the rest of the grave; Behold him where bleeding and prostrate he lies, Unfriended he lived, and unpitied he died.
One Liberty Minstrel air that was used by campaigners had the following wording:
"Now let us all, yes, every man, Vote for the Slave, for now we can; Break every chain and every yoke, Vote not for Clay nor James K. Polk; Sinner! man! &c.
"Come let us go for James G. Birney, Who sells not flesh and blood for money; He is the man you all can see, Who gave his slaves their liberty; Sinner! man! &c.
"We hail thee as an honest Man, God made thee on his noblest plan; To stand for freedom in that hour, To thrust a blow at Slavery's power; Sinner! man! &c.
"Hurrah, the ball is rolling on, Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah! In spite of whig or loco don, Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah! Our country still has hopes to rise, The bravest efforts win the prize, Hurrah! &c.
"With joy elate our friends appear, Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah! Our vaunting foes are filled with fear, Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah! Ten thousand slaves have run away From Georgia to Canada; Hurrah! &c.
"Lo! all the world for Birney now, Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah! See! as he comes the parties bow, Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah! No iron mixed with miry clay, Will ever do, the people say, Hurrah! &c.
"Then up, ye hearties, one and all! Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah! Be faithful to your country's call; Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah! Let none the vote of freedom shun, Run to the meeting ? run, run, run! Hurrah, &c.
"Be Birney's name the one you choose, Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah! Let not a soul his ballot lose, Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah! No other man in this our day Will ever do, the people say: Hurrah! &c.
Birney was spectacularly unsuccessful in that campaign, but he did accomplish two things:
1-His 15,000 votes in New York helped defeat Whig Henry Clay and elect Democrat James K. Polk, whose expansionist policies led to the Mexican War and paved the way for the Civil War;
2-Conducted the first third party Presidential candidacy in history that was the foundation stone of a later anti-slavery movement, the Republican Party.
Like television today, music undoubtedly played an important part in the campaign although it had little impact on Birney, who got only about 62,000 votes nationally. ###
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mosher Says:
On January 30, 2012
at 08:52 AM
Does "Minstrel Air" mean it was usually performed by a minstrel show, white performers in black-face makeup? That adds another layer of American history's contradictions to the story, especially in light of Birney's anti-slavery message.
Thanks, Dave, for your Bay City historical notes, always a good read. |
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Dave Rogers |
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