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Museum object · Slavery and Freedom Objects

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

ca. 1874; printed later

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

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Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

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. ].

Sources & collection details

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture — original record ↗

Source collection ↗

Catalog metadata · CC0 · Source checked 2026-10-13

Catalog reference: 2012.160.152.1

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