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Photo, Print, Drawing The political quadrille. Music by Dred Scott

[ digital file from b&w film copy neg. ]

About this Item

Title

  • The political quadrille. Music by Dred Scott

Summary

  • A general parody on the 1860 presidential contest, highlighting the impact of the Dred Scott decision on the race. That controversial decision, handed down in 1857 by Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, ruled that neither the federal government nor territorial governments could prohibit slavery in the territories. The burning question of the future of slavery in the United States was addressed by several of the contenders during the 1860 race. Here the four presidential candidates dance with members of their supposed respective constituencies. The music is fiddled by Dred Scott, the former slave whose suit precipitated the court's decision. Scott sits on a chair at center. In the upper left is Southern Democrat John C. Breckinridge. He is paired with Democratic incumbent and ally James Buchanan, depicted as a goat or (as he was nicknamed) "Buck." At the upper right Republican Abraham Lincoln prances arm-in-arm with a black woman, a pejorative reference to his party's alignment with the abolitionists. At lower right Constitutional Union party candidate John Bell dances with an Indian brave. This pairing is puzzling but may allude to Bell's brief flirtation with Native American interests. (For one instance of the use of the Indian as a nativist symbol see "Know Nothing Soap," no. 1854-3.) At lower left Stephen A. Douglas dances with a ragged Irishman. Associated with Douglas in several cartoons (see "The Undecided Political Prize Fight," no. 1860-22) the Irishman, here wearing a cross, may be intended as a reference to Douglas's backing among Irish immigrants and allegations of the candidate's Catholicism. "The Political Quadrille's" stylistic similarity to the "Undecided Political Prize Fight" and "Dividing The National Map" (nos. 1860-22 and 1860-24) suggests a common authorship.

Created / Published

  • [Cincinnati? : s.n.], 1860.

Headings

  • -  Bell, John,--1796-1869
  • -  Breckinridge, John C.--(John Cabell),--1821-1875
  • -  Buchanan, James,--1791-1868
  • -  Lincoln, Abraham,--1809-1865
  • -  Scott, Dred,--1809-1858
  • -  United States.--Supreme Court--1860
  • -  Catholic Church--1860
  • -  African Americans--1860
  • -  Criticism--1860
  • -  Presidential elections--United States--1860
  • -  Slavery--1860

Headings

  • Lithographs--1860.
  • Political cartoons--1860.

Genre

  • Lithographs--1860
  • Political cartoons--1860

Notes

  • -  Title appears as it is written on the item.
  • -  "The Lincoln Image," p. 42.
  • -  Weitenkampf, p. 123.
  • -  Wilson, p. 18-19.
  • -  Forms part of: American cartoon print filing series (Library of Congress)
  • -  Published in: American political prints, 1766-1876 / Bernard F. Reilly. Boston : G.K. Hall, 1991, entry 1860-23.

Medium

  • 1 print : lithograph on wove paper ; 32.3 x 45.6 cm. (image)

Call Number/Physical Location

  • PC/US - 1860.A000, no. 39 (B size) [P&P]

Source Collection

  • American cartoon print filing series (Library of Congress)

Repository

  • Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/p.print

Digital Id

  • cph 3a17084 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3a17084

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2008661605

Reproduction Number

  • LC-USZ62-14827 (b&w film copy neg.)

Rights Advisory

  • No known restrictions on publication.

Online Format

  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

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  • Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.
  • Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-14827 (b&w film copy neg.)
  • Call Number: PC/US - 1860.A000, no. 39 (B size) [P&P]
  • Access Advisory: ---

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Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

The political quadrille. Music by Dred Scott. United States, 1860. [Cincinnati?: s.n] Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2008661605/.

APA citation style:

(1860) The political quadrille. Music by Dred Scott. United States, 1860. [Cincinnati?: s.n] [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2008661605/.

MLA citation style:

The political quadrille. Music by Dred Scott. [Cincinnati?: s.n] Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2008661605/>.