May 07, 2020 - Sale 2534

Sale 2534 - Lot 382

Price Realized: $ 4,750
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 1,000 - $ 1,500
(RECONSTRUCTION.) Civil Rights! Miscegenation Allowed by Congress, Despite the Veto of the President. Double-sided illustrated card, 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches; vertical crease, otherwise minor wear. [Pennsylvania, mid-1866]

Additional Details

A satire on the Civil Rights Act of 1866, and the override of President Johnson's veto in April. The illustration shows a mixed-race bride and groom appearing before a minister. The groom says "Massa, you must marry us. De law says so." The minister sighs "Marriage is a contract. I must do this or be fined." The text attacks the newly passed bill, claiming that it "makes the Negro the equal of the White Man. . . . they can force themselves by it into our company in the hotels, in the cars, in the lecture room and in all public assemblies." It singles out three Pennsylvania state politicians who were running for office as Republicans in the 1866 election (Geary, Forney, and Cameron), suggesting that it was published by the supporters of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Hiester Clymer, a virulent white supremacist. We trace no other examples of this toxic political piece in OCLC or at auction.