Racist cartoon accusing the Republican party of electoral fraud and obstructionism in the presidential election of 1864. Depicts a ballot office where an armed African American man, portrayed in racist caricature and attired in torn and worn clothing, prevents a disabled white Union soldier from voting for McClellan. In the left, the African American man holds a bayoneted rifle and says in the vernacular, "Hallo dar! You can't put in dat you copperhead traitor, nor any oder 'cept for Massa Lincoln!! [A copperhead refers to a Democrat who wanted peace with the South]. In the right, the Union veteran, attired in uniform, wears an eye patch and has an amputated left arm with an artificial limb and an amputated right leg. He leans on a crutch and holds a ballot reading "McClellan" in his right hand. He replies, "I am an American citizen and did not think I had fought and bled for this, alas my country!" In the background, election workers comment about the potential trouble and the need to ignore the situation., Title from item., Date inferred from content., Possible place of publication supplied by Reilly., RVCDC, Purchase 1960., 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., Baker was a New England etcher and lithographer who drew many Civil War caricatures.
Creator
Baker, Joseph E., approximately 1837-1914, artist
Date
[1864]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Political Cartoons - 1864-35R [6395.F]
