Untitled

CDV - This is the earliest and most complete version. A carte-de-visite (albumen and silver on photographic paper on card mount) of sixty-four (64) so-called "Radical" members of the reconstructed South Carolina legislature after the Civil War. The upper portion of the carte-de-visite is a composite photograph of bust-style portraits of each Congressional member. Below the composite photograph is printed text on the card identifying fifty (50) of the members of Congress as "colored" and thirteen (13) as "white." The text incorrectly states that sixty-three (63) members are pictured. On the verso is printed text listing the names of the sixty-four (64) people depicted on the front, listed by row, "Lines from Left to Right." Some names are misspelled. In 1867, the governments of the former Confederate states were restructured to reflect the new political order of the post-Civil War South. Federal troops oversaw the implementation of the Reconstruction Acts of 1867, which provided newly freed slaves with their first opportunity to register to vote. The 1867 elections created a "black and tan" convention charged with creating a new constitution for South Carolina. The convention's constitution of 1868 provided for new elections, creating a state legislature that ratified the constitution and successfully requested readmission to the Union. South Carolina rejoined the Union on June 25, 1868, and became the only state legislature with a black majority in its lower house. This composite portrait of members of the Republican caucus in the South Carolina legislature was created by opponents of Reconstruction. The term "radical" was used to deride Reconstructionist lawmakers by former Confederates opposed to their agenda of legal reform and racial equality. The collage of formal portraits surrounds two central figures, both white men. Franklin Moses, Jr. (1838-1906) was a former ardent Confederate who-as legend had it-raised the Confederate flag over Fort Sumter at the beginning of the war. After the Union victory, Moses became, in the parlance of the South, a "scalawag," a turncoat who changed sides in the interest of preserving his political fortunes in the new government. His portrait is titled "Judas Moses who raised the Confederate Flag on Fort Sumter." Next to him is Lemuel Boozer (1809-1870), a delegate to the constitutional convention. His portrait is titled "President, Lieut. Gov. Boozer 40 Acres and a Mule," a reference to the widespread rumor that Reconstructionist legislators would mandate comprehensive land redistribution which would award "40 acres and a mule" to each freed slave. The image almost certainly dates from the period 1868-72, (L of C dates it 1868) after the implementation of the new state constitution but before Moses's election as governor of South Carolina. Subject Of Dusenberry, George W., American, died 1869 McKinlay, Whitefield J., American Dickson, Elias Evander, American, 1832 - 1909 Wilder, Charles McDuffie, American Hoyt, William R., American Randolph, Benjamin Franklin, American, died 1868 Harris, David, American Mays, James P., American Jillson, Justus K., American, 1839 - 1881 Lomax, Hutson J., American Jackson, Benjamin Franklin, American Thomas, William M., American Webb, Henry W., American, died 1869 Boseman, Benjamin A. Jr., American, 1840 - 1881 Tomlinson, Reuben, American Wright, Jonathan Jasper, American, 1840 - 1885 DeMars, Francis, American Brodie, William J., American Hayes, Eben, American Cain, Lawrence, American Maxwell, Henry J., American, 1837 - 1906 Martin, James, American, died 1868 Cooke, Wilson, American Miller, Franklin F., American Rivers, Prince R., American, 1824 - 1887 Duncan, Hiram W., American Boozer, Lemuel, American, 1809 - 1870 Smythe, Powell, American Wright, John B., American Moses, Franklin Israel Jr., American, 1838 - 1906 Saunders, Sancho, American Nuckles, Samuel, American White, John Hannibal, American, 1828 - 1878 Burton, Barney, American Shrewsbury, Henry L., American Mickey, Edward Charles, American Henderson, James A., American Hayne, Henry E., American, born 1840 Mobley, Junius S., American Hutson, James, American Sen. Nash, William Beverly, American, 1822 - 1888 Smith, Abraham W., American Pettengill, Charles H., American Hyde, John B., American Lee, Samuel J., American, 1844 - 1895 Simons, William M., American, 1810 - 1878 Chestnut, John A., American McDaniel, Harry, American Gardner, John, American Stephen Atkins Swails, American, 1832 - 1900 Perrin, Wade, American, died 1870 James, Burrell S., American Johnson, William E., American Wimbush, Lucius W., American, 1839 - 1872 Hayes, Elliott Stannmore Jerome, American, 1848 - 1913 Farr, Simeon, American Mead, John W., American Thompson, Benjamin A., American Rainey, Joseph Hayne, American, 1832 - 1887 Milford, Thomas Bailey, American There is an 1876 edition depicting the first South Carolina legislature after the 1867 Reconstruction acts. It uses the same photo with an individual added next to the Gov,.... Not in Collection. It lacks the the write-up on the Legislature (not complimentary) that is on the 1868 edition in the Collection and in the L of C.

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Subjects

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Physical Location

Arc.MS.56, Box 20, Folder 3