Encounters
''burlesque'' ▫ᴱᴺ｜encounter｜ENC｜20260904134559-09-•
In February 1836, the Journal published two such epistles over the signature “Johnny Blubberhead,” a mocking sobriquet for George R. Weber, co-editor of Springfield’s Jacksonian newspaper, The Republican. Composed in a primitive dialect like that of Lincoln’s 1842 pseudonymous “Rebecca” missive (whose authorship Lincoln acknowledged), the first “Blubberhead” letter satirized the convention system and various Democratic leaders. John Calhoun, a leading Democrat, was burlesqued shamelessly. Blubberhead (Weber) reports to Democratic Congressman William L. May: “Since Cal[houn] lost part of his ear against the mantel piece he’s been lopsided, and I thinks it hurt his eyedears. He’s given greatly to talking to heself; and I heard him talk tother day so I was afeared that somethin was brewen. He said if he took $200 twas nobodys business; he needed it—he’d worked for the party—and he’d be (and then he used an awful word) if he did’nt blow up the whole party if they didn’t do somthin for him.” Blubberhead (Weber) recommended firing all the postmasters and outlawing the distribution through the mail of the Sangamo Journal as the “way what would make dimocrats of the Van Buren system.” He complained that May had allowed another printer, William Walters of Vandalia, to receive government patronage in Illinois: “This aint fair; you promised to give me all the printin and I holds you to your bargain. I would’nt a left the anti-masons if you had’nt promised me.” Alluding to charges against May involving theft and lechery, Blubberhead warned him against trying “your old Edwardsville tricks.”
Source: Abraham Lincoln ∶ A Life ▫𓂃
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