“Swingin Round the Cirkle” by Petroleum V. Nasby (pseud. David Ross Locke). Published 1867. The continuation of the title is: “His ideas of men, politics, and things, as set forth in his letters to the public press, during the year 1866.” With illustrations by Thomas Nast.
This is a collection of letters written in dialect by “Petroleum V. Nasby” discussing the events of the Reconstruction of the United States after the Civil War. This collection centers on the “Swing Round the Circle” tour (following the Philadelphia convention) by Andrew Johnson, who was stumping to gain support for his Union Party.
“Nasby” was a prolific writer of letters, the earliest (antebellum) appearing in the Findlay (Ohio) Jeffersonian, and later ones appearing in the Toledo (Ohio) Blade. He was a Copperhead (a Northern-born Southern sympathizer) and loud-mouth, who was always trying to land a plum Post Office Commission. That and get extended credit at the grocery. And free drinks.
The creator of Nasby, David Ross Locke (1833-1888) was a journalist and abolitionist. His Nasby letters influenced public opinion against slavery during and after the Civil War. Nasby/Locke are not as well known today as they once were. Nasby was an extremely popular character, but his writings are in dialect using language we’d consider inappropriate today (and there are some very difficult passages — it is not all a laugh-riot). But the satire is still sharp, even considering the passage of time and some changes in details. For example, in a scene where he meets with Andrew Johnson to ask for a Post Office Commission:
Knowin that for men uv my profound convickshins, holdin my views ez to consiliashen and sich, I hed no call to go to the Postmaster-General, who is a Ablishnist, I went dreckly to the Second Jaxon hisself. I succeeded in gettin a audience late in the afternoon. Our patron saint wuz a sittin at a table, eggsausted with receevin delegashens and sich.
“Well,” sed he.
“Honerd and spected sir,” said I, “I am a applicant for the post orfis at Confedrit × Roads, wich is at present held by a Ablishnist who does not beleeve in yoor policy, wich I do beleeve in solemnly. Spected and honered sir,” sed I, “ef I shood have twins born to me this nite, I shood name em both Policy.”
“Wich State are yoo from?” sed he, half asleep.
“From Kentucky, honered and spected sir,” sed I.
“Well,” sed he, yawnin feerfully, and turnin to a clerk, “Fill out a pardon, and give him a commission!”
Sound, er, familiar?
