Details
Contributor Barber, John, publisher.
Title Secession displayed [graphic].
Publisher New Haven, Conn. : Published by John Barber
Publisher CONN. New Haven. 1861
Date 1861
Physical Description 1 print : hand-colored wood engraving ; sheet 47 x 60 cm (18.75 x 24 in.)
Description Pro-Union cartoon containing a montage of vignettes representing the consequences of secession, particularly the denigration of American freedom. Depicts Roman soldiers representing the "Demons of Nullification, Secession, and Treason" attacking the "Temple of Freedom," the edifice adorned with the names of Revolutionary heroes and battles. The allegorical army carries a "Flag of Disunion" inscribed "Liberty! [To Extend Slavery]," swords, spears, and torches. These soldiers of "war" and "rapine" trample upon the torn Constitution and American flag. In the background, surrounding vignettes depict the bloodied, manacled "Genius of Liberty," depicted as a white woman, fallen beside "Free Speech" and the "Free Press"; the "Servile Insurrection" depicting enslaved Black men attacking white men, women, and children; the king "Military Despotism," depicted as a white man attired in a crown, brandishes manacles and bayonets to complete "the work begun by the traitors"; ghostly figures of "Departed Heroes & Sages," including Washington, Jefferson, and Adams look aghast "on the sacrilege perpetrated in the name of Liberty"; and Liberty, depicted as a white woman, weeps beside an upside down American flag and below the quote of the executed French revolutionary, Madame Roland, "O Liberty! What crimes are committed in thy name."
Notes Text printed above image: "Indignantly frown upon every attempt to alien any portion of our country from the rest"--Washington.
Text printed below image: The enemies of the Republic, from the Gulf, or Lower Regions, led on by the Demons of Nullification, Secession and Treason, assail the Temple of American Freedom, consecrated by the blood of the Martyrs of Liberty. Raising the Flag of Disunion, the Traitors trample on the Star-spangled Banner and the Constitution which they have sworn to defend. The Genius of Liberty is stricken down and manacled. War and Servile Insurrection prevail. Military Despotism, of necessity, succeeds, and with its chains and bayonets completes the work begun by the Traitors. The Genius of America weeps, while, above, the shades of departed Heroes and Statesmen gaze with sad astonishment on the sacrilege perpetrated in the name of Liberty! “God Save the Commonwealth.”
Title from item.
Date from copyright statement: Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1861, by John Barber, in the office of the Clerk of the District Court of Connecticut.
Retrospective conversion record: original entry, edited.
Accessioned 1981.
Description revised 2021.
Access points revised 2021.
Digitized by Alexander Street Press for Images of the American Civil War.
Part of digital collections catalog through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education through the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett, Governor, 2013-2014.
Subject Allegories.
Flags -- American.
Liberty.
Secession.
Slave rebellions.
Slavery.
Revolutionaries -- United States.
Black men.
Enslaved men.
Rebellions.
Geographic subject United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865.
Genre Allegories -- 1860-1870.
Political cartoons -- 1860-1870.
Wood engravings -- Hand-colored -- 1860-1870.
Printer Barber, John, publisher.
Location Library Company of Philadelphia| Print Department| *Political Cartoons-1861 Sec [P.8699]
Accession number P.8699