A false report circulated for political purposes. See quotations 1844.
1844. The Albany Journal published what purported to be an extract from ‘Roorback’s Tour through the Western and Southern States,’ in 1836, containing libellous matter concerning James K. Polk. This ‘Tour’ was made up from that of Featherstonhaugh.—Phila. Spirit of the Times, Sept. 26.
1844. The Roorback stories of the Whig partizans do not hang together.—N.Y. Post, Sept.
1844. Do you remember, sir, the story which was circulated in all the federal papers of the North and West,—said to be taken, I think, from the travels of one Roorback—to this effect: that the aforesaid Roorback was travelling in the South; that he saw upon the banks of Duck River an encampment of negroes, with their drivers, proceeding to the southern market; and that these negroes were branded with the initials “J. K. P.,” and were the property of James K. Polk, the democratic candidate for president of the U.S.? This was a base forgery. I shall next advert to the gold humbug, which originated also in the Roorback mint.—Mr. Henley of Indiana, House of Repr., Dec. 22: Cong. Globe, p. 76, App.
1844. THE ROORBACK FORGERY has been traced to a Mr. Linn of Ithaca, N.Y., a violent abolitionist and an intemperate man.—Phila. Spirit of the Times, Oct. 3.
1852. Let me raise my warning voice, and say to my Southern friends, beware of these Birney Roorbacks.—Mr. Olds of Ohio, House of Repr., Jan. 20: Cong. Globe, p. 327.
1857. “A Roorback from the East.”—Heading, San Francisco Call, May 5.
1858. “The Roorback.”—Heading, Oregon Weekly Times, Oct. 2.
1860. “Opposition Roorback.”—Heading of an item in the Richmond Enquirer, Nov. 6, p. 4/2.
1876. It was a poor day for roorbacks yesterday. First, Prof. Lowell was going to vote for Tilden, and then he —— wasn’t. Second, President Grant had declared that the vote of Louisiana ought to be thrown out, and then he —— hadn’t. Third, Governor Hayes promised all sorts of strange things, and then he —— didn’t. These were short-legged lies, all of them; and they soon got out of breath.—N.Y. Tribune, Dec. (Bartlett).
1884. The Herald and Globe abound in roorbacks which are designed to influence the vote in Maine.—Boston Journal, Sept. 6. (N.E.D.)
