African Americana

9 7/8 x 13 1/4 in. letterpress broadside (creasing, toning); 17 1/4 x 20 1/4 in. (not examined out of frame, possibly affixed to board). 

An anti-14th amendment broadside likely produced by the Democratic party or a Democratic candidate. The text quotes extensively from Stephen Douglas from the Lincoln-Douglas debates in 1858, particularly his views on citizenship and rights for African Americans, in part: "I will say then that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races; that I AM NOT and NEVER HAVE BEEN. IN FAVOR OF MAKING VOTERS OR JURORS OF NEGROES, NOR OF QUALIFYING THEM TO HOLD OFFICE, NOR TO INTERMARRY WITH WHITE PEOPLE." The broadside concludes with a quote from Abraham Lincoln in response to Douglas: "So far as I know, the Judge never asked me the question before. He shall have no occasion to ever ask it again, for I tell him frankly that I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF NEGRO CITIZENSHIP...Now, my opinion is, that the different States have the power to make a negro a citizen under the Constitution of the United States, if they choose." 

The 14th Amendment grants citizenship to all persons "born or naturalized in the United States," including formerly enslaved people, and provided all citizens with "equal protection under the laws." It was passed by Congress on 13 June 1866 and ratified on 9 July 1868 and as such became a major issue in the 1868 presidential election. RARE: only 1 copy located in OCLC, held at the Houghton Library, Harvard University.