African American Reconstruction Cartoon: Pennsylvania Gubernatorial Race, 1866

Printed political cartoon entitled "For Governor Climber" related to Pennsylvania's bitterly contested gubernatorial race of 1866, and its impact on newly emancipated blacks. The cartoon uses a pun on "Climber/Clymer" to lampoon Democratic candidate Hiester Clymer (1827-1884). On cream paper. A few light folds, and an isolated area of smudging at lower left. Minor mounting traces verso, else near fine. 4" x 5.75".

One of only two known, the other being in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Accompanied by extensive research about the Geary/Clymer election and Hiester Clymer.

Clymer is depicted slipping down a pole while a white bystander is captioned "Do Your Best Clymer" and a black bystander advises "Your Boat at 11 PM for Salt River So Give that up Hester" [sic]. A snake ominously slithers at the base of the pole. At bottom, Clymer admits: "Andy, I have done my best, but all's up I know with me. -- For I saw the SALT RIVER BOAT coming, and it is the last Boat I know; so I must not miss it, for I cannot afford to purchase another ticket." Its generically delineated characters do not resemble the real Clymer and Geary, who were both bearded.

Republican candidate (and eventual winner) John W. Geary (1819-1873) faced off against Democrat Hiester Clymer for Pennsylvania's gubernatorial race. Geary, a Civil War hero and the former governor of Kansas territory, ran on a black civil rights and suffrage platform, while Clymer rallied adherents under the banner of white supremacy. Of the prolific amount of campaign art generated before this election, Clymer's relied heavily on racial stereotypes. Our cartoon, though it depicts the black character in ragged clothing, does not use any of the most virulent stereotypes that Clymer employed. The phrase "to go up Salt River" or "to be rowed up Salt River" was a colloquial political slogan or catchphrase originating in the antebellum South after 1827. It was used in cartoons and speeches as a metaphor to symbolize political defeat or losing an election. Most sources attribute the phrase to an anecdote shared in the Dictionary of American History. The story goes that in 1832, when Whig candidate Henry Clay hired a Democratic-Republican boatman to row him up the Ohio River where he was slated to give a campaign speech, the boatman instead rowed him up the Salt River, causing him to miss the speech and lose the election to incumbent Andrew Jackson. Hiester Clymer was a Princeton graduate, lawyer, and state senator from a local political dynasty. After his failed bid for Pennsylvania governor, Clymer served as a Pennsylvania Congressman and railroad executive.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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