Museum object · Slavery and Freedom Objects
Civil Rights! Miscegenation Allowed by Congress, Despite the Veto of the President
1866
Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America
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 satirical illustrated card about the Civil Rights Act of 1866, titled "Civil Rights! Miscegenation Allowed by Congress, Despite the Veto of the President". The illustration shows a white bride and a caricatured Black groom appearing before a minister. The groom says "Massa, you must marry us. De law says so." The minister sighs "Marriage is a contract. I must do this or be fined." Text below the illustration reads [The President vetoed the Bill in order to protect the White Man. / Congress passed it over his head to benefit the Negro.] and continues to mention three Pennsylvania state politicians who were running for office as Republicans in the 1866 election: Geary, Forney, and Cameron as being in favor of the bill. The reverse of the card continues the racist textual attack against the Civil Rights Act, beginning with the admonishment [READ THE BILL! READ THE VETO!].
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Sources & collection details
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture — original record ↗
Catalog metadata · CC0 · Source checked 2026-10-13
Catalog reference: 2020.26.39
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