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ca. 1874; printed later

A reprint on brown background of the central scene from the original lithograph "The Shackle Broken - By the Genius of Freedom" by E. Sachse & Co. depicting Robert B. Elliott giving his famous Civil Rights Bill Speech in the House of Representatives on January 6, 1874.
The illustration depicts Elliott, standing on the lower floor, addressing the U. S. House of Representatives. All around him are congressmen, and at the very top, men and women spectators. Hanging from the ceiling is a banner with a quotation from his speech: [WHAT YOU GIVE TO ONE CLASS / YOU MUST GIVE TO ALL, / WHAT YOU DENY TO ONE CLASS / YOU DENY TO ALL / HON. R. B. ELLIOTT’s speech page 4. ].
Above the banner in black ink, printed into the rounded frame of the illustration, is a portion of Elliott’s speech: [In that dire extremity the members of the race which I have the honor in part to represent—the race which pleads for justice at your hands today, forgetful of their inhuman and brutalizing servitude at the South, their degradation and ostracism at the North—flew willingly and gallantly to the support of the national Government. Their sufferings, assistance, privations, and trials / in the swamps and in the rice-fields, their valor on the land and on the sea, is a part of the ever-glorious record which makes up the history of a nation preserved – HON. R. B. ELLIOTT’s speech page 7.].
On either side of the illustration, printed vertically in bold are the words “LIBERTY”, “ARMY”, “JURY &” / “EQUALITY”, “NAVY”, “BALLOT”. On the far-right side of the illustration, printed vertically in black ink, is: [The Library of Congress]. At the bottom of the illustration is: [HON. ROBERT B. ELLIOTT, / Of South Carolina, / DELIVERING HIS GREAT SPEECH ON “CIVIL RIGHTS” IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, JANUARY 6, 1874.].
In large white print beneath the illustration is an excerpt from Elliott’s speech: [“The results of the war as seen in reconstruction, have / settled forever the political status of my race. The pas- / sage of the bill will determine the civil status, not only of the Negro, but of any other class of citizens who may feel / themselves discriminated against. It will form the cap- / stone of a temple of liberty, the grandest which the world has ever seen.” / ROBERT BROWN ELLIOTT], and [CIVIL RIGHTS BILL SPEECH IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, JANUARY 6, 1874].

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Slavery and Freedom Objects
Memorabilia and Ephemera - Other

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Stanley Turkel's Collection of Reconstruction Era Materials

National Museum of African American History and Culture

2012.160.152.1

reprographic copies

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ink on paper

H x W: 8 1/2 × 5 3/4 in. (21.6 × 14.6 cm)

Title • Hon. Robert B. Elliott of South Carolina Delivering His Great Speech On Civil Rights in the House of Representatives

nmaahc_2012.160.152.1

NMAAHC

HON. ROBERT B. ELLIOTT OF SOUTH CAROLINA DELIVERING HIS GREAT SPEECH ON CIVIL RIGHTS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

National Museum of African American History and Culture

CC0

1870s

United States Congress • Elliott, Robert Brown • E. Sachse & Company

District of Columbia • United States • North and Central America • Washington

Justice • Slavery • U.S. History, 1865-1921 • Law • Men • Civil rights • Politics • Reconstruction, U.S. History, 1865-1877 • Freedom

City • Washington • State • District of Columbia • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America

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No Known Copyright Restrictions