Primary Resources

The Compromise of 1876 and Reconstruction in the North

Garrison, William Lloyd. “A Letter to his son, Wendell, on the subject of his thoughts about the Centennial of the Declaration and its implications on the current social and political climate.”
Roxbury, MA: July 21st, 1776. In this letter, Garrison criticizes the celebratory tenor of the centennial and its praise of the founding fathers. Garrison contends that the fathers should not be lauded because they were “too cowardly” to truly create a bastion of liberty in the United States. Specifically, Garrison enumerates the reasons why the Old South Church should not be targeted for preservation. Among his reasons is that the church maintained a pro-slavery stance during the abolitionist movement.

Child, Lydia Marie. “A letter from Lydia Marie Child to “Friend Phillips”
[possibly Wendell Phillips?], discussing the condition of Southern blacks and on living a ‘Bohemian’ lifestyle.” Wayland, MA: June 4th, 1876. Z.77.H71C. While some abolitionists abandoned their work on behalf of southern blacks after the end of slavery, Child makes it clear that she feels that the newly freed slaves still require assistance and advocacy from northern abolitionists.

Crowell, John. “The Colonial and Revolutionary History of Haverhill: A Centennial Oration delivered before the city government and the citizens of Haverhill, July 4, 1876.”
Haverhill: Gazette Printers, 1877. F74.H5 C9 - (possibly move to 1676 and 1776 too???) This centennial speech details the history of the Merrimack Valley from the colonial era through the Revolution. Topic include, the establishment of the public school and town meeting, King Philip’s War and hostilities with Native Americans, the area’s Revolutionary history, and George Washington’s visit (J.G. Whittier’s poem about Washington’s visit is reprinted.)

Debate in the House of Representatives Between Mr. Butler of Massachusetts and Mr. Bingham of Ohio 1875
From the introduction: “Mr. Butler, of Massachusetts, and Mr. Bingham, of Ohio, on the Million Appropriation Bill of the Senate for the relief of the Southern Rebels; and the amendment of Mr. Butler that a like sum be appropriated to the relief of the Widows and Orphans of our Soldiers starved in rebel prisons; or that the rich rebels should be taxed to feed their own poor.”

Admission of Georgia. Speeches of Hon. Benjamin F. Butler Delivered in the House of Representatives on March 4 & 8, 1870.
In debating the readmission of Georgia into the Union, Butler gives an overview of the political history of that state and other former Confederate states throughout the period of Reconstruction.

Courtesy of the Boston Public Library - EVANS Online

Colloquium: Republican Versus Democratic – The Truth in Regard to the South, and the Duty of the Colored Voter.
American Broadsides and Ephemera, Series 1, no. 13763. This document is written in the form of a dialogue between a former slave and a northern citizen. In this dialogue, the two parties discuss conditions under slavery and the contemporary persecution of black citizens in the Jim Crow south.

National Republican Nominations for President Rutherford B. Hayes,, of Ohio. For Vice President, William A. Wheeler, of New York. Their Letters of Acceptance, Frank and Fearless in Tone, Cover the Entire Ground.
American Broadsides and Ephemera, Series 1, no. 13888. In Hayes’ letter of acceptance, he addresses the significant issues of the day including: the spoils system, ensuring the Constitutional rights of all citizens, and restoring local government to the southern states. Wheeler addresses issues such as ensuring the education of the entire electorate and equality under the law.

Key Hole in the Door - American Broadsides and Ephemera, Series 1, no. 1004.
This ca. 1877 song expresses dissatisfaction with the Hayes administration.

Lo! The Poor Indian!!
American Broadsides and Ephemera. This broadside announces a show that features “Captain Jack and his band of treacherous Modocs.” This Native American troupe had performed in Lawrence, MA (an account is included in the broadside) and Fall River.

Republican State Conventions in Massachusetts Compiled by the Republican State Committee.
American Broadsides and Ephemera, Series 1. This document lists the numbers of votes for Hayes in the 1876 election by town.

Courtesy of the Newburyport Archival Center

Lord, John Lewis. Excerpts from the “Manuscript Diary of John Lewis Lord of Newbury, Belleville," Volume 10. Newburyport: 1827-1878. N974.4512 L866 v. 10.
In between notations about the weather, John Lewis Lord writes about the contested election and contemporary affairs such as temperance and local electoral politics.

Selected Online Documents

National Independent Political Union. Negro declaration of independence. Republican faithlessness and corruptions exposed and scathingly denounced by colored men ... [Washington, 1876].
This document, from the Library of Congress’ American Memory website represents a motion adopted by African-American delegates at a meeting in Washington, D.C. In the document, the men sever their ties with the “corrupt” Republican Party and its policies that do not represent their interests.
(Library of Congress American Memory Website)

An American Time Capsule: Three Centuries of Broadsides and Other Printed Ephemera The Declaration of Independence of the United States of North America. July 4, 1776. [Cut] arranged and adapted for vocal and instrumental music as the great national chant and dedicated to the work by John E. Wilson. Baltimore. 1861.
The Declaration of Independence set to music.
(Library of Congress American Memory Website)

Centennial: The American Negro from 1776-1876; Oration Delivered at Avondale, Ohio, 1876 by Reverend George W. Williams.
(Online Only) This document, from the website of the Ohio Historical Society, was delivered at a Fourth of July celebration. In it, Reverend Williams recounts the history of the United States and the place of the African American population within it. Reverend Williams’ oration pays special attention to the history of slavery in Massachusetts.

The Colored American Republican Text Book issued by the Colored American Publishing Company, Washington, D.C. 1899.
(Online Only) Also from the website of the Ohio Historical Society, this document details the benefits that African Americans received during President McKinley’s administration. The document contains political cartoons and images of prominent African-American Republicans.

The Frederick Douglass Papers at the Library of CongressRepublican Party Campaign Speech (Series: Speech, Article, and Book File---A: Frederick Douglass, Dated).
This 1876 speech is available from the Frederick Douglass Papers on the Library of Congress’ American Memory website. Responding to a request from the Republican National Committee, Douglass campaigned in Maine on behalf of the party.

The Frederick Douglass Papers at the Library of Congress Speech before the Mass Meeting of Colored Republicans of the District of Columbia (Series: Speech, Article, and Book File---A: Frederick Douglass, Dated)
Douglass spoke before a meeting of African-American Republicans in 1876. In his speech, he praised the actions and legacy of Pinckney Benton Stewart Pinchback of Louisiana. Pinchback was the first African American to become governor of a U.S. state (Louisiana) and later was elected to both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives. His election to these posts was contested however, and Democrats were seated in his place.

Tobacco Trading Card
This trading card was manufactured by Blackwells Durham cigarettes and comments on the upcoming election.

Republican Campaign Songs (Search “Republican Campaign Songs 1876”)
In advocating for the election of Hayes and Wheeler, these songs follow several common Republican political strategies including “waving the bloody shirt” or invoking memories of the war, and appealing to African-Americans.

“We Will Not Vote for Tilden” By James Nicholson
“Republican Campaign Song” By James Nicholson
“1876 Republican Campaign Song” By James Nicholson
“Republicans Remember” By James Nicholson
“The Republican Rally” By Wm. Oland Bourne
Republican Star Campaign Song – “We’ll Go For Hayes and Wheeler

Carnival of Blood! New York, 1876. Printed Ephemera Collection; Portfolio 128, Folder 47.
This broadside features a supposedly leaked document from New York Democrats to prominent southern Democrats. The document suggests that southern Democrats should take violent measures to ensure a Democratic victory.