Unidentified Photographer, Radical Members of the South Carolina Legislature, ca. 1868–72 (442.2005)
In 1867, the governments of the former Confederate states were restructured to reflect the new political order of the post-Civil War South. Federal troops oversaw the implementation of the Reconstruction Acts of 1867, which provided newly freed slaves with their first opportunity to register to vote. The 1867 elections created a “black and tan” convention charged with creating a new constitution for South Carolina. The convention’s constitution of 1868 provided for new elections, creating a state legislature that ratified the constitution and successfully requested readmission to the Union. South Carolina rejoined the Union on June 25, 1868, and became the only state legislature with a black majority in its lower house.
This composite portrait of members of the Republican caucus in the South Carolina legislature was created by opponents of Reconstruction. The term “radical” was used to deride Reconstructionist lawmakers by former Confederates opposed to their agenda of legal reform and racial equality. The collage of formal portraits surrounds two central figures, both white men. Franklin Moses, Jr. (1838–1906) was a former ardent Confederate who—as legend had it—raised the Confederate flag over Fort Sumter at the beginning of the war. After the Union victory, Moses became, in the parlance of the South, a “scalawag,” a turncoat who changed sides in the interest of preserving his political fortunes in the new government. His portrait is titled “Judas Moses who raised the Confederate Flag on Fort Sumter.” Next to him is Lemuel Boozer (1809–1870), a delegate to the constitutional convention. His portrait is titled “President, Lieut. Gov. Boozer 40 Acres and a Mule,” a reference to the widespread rumor that Reconstructionist legislators would mandate comprehensive land redistribution which would award “40 acres and a mule” to each freed slave.
The image almost certainly dates from the period 1868–72, after the implementation of the new state constitution but before Moses’s election as governor of South Carolina.
On the verso is printed:
“Lines from Left to Right.
Line 1-Dusenberry, McKinlay, Dickson, Wilder, Hoyt, Randolph, Harris
2-Myes, Jillson, Lomax, Jackson, Thomas, Webb, Bozeman, Tomlinson, Wright.
3-Demars, Brodie, Hayes, Cain, Maxwell, Martin, Cook, Miller.
4-Rivers, Duncan, BOOZER, Smythe, Wright, MOSES, Sancho, Sanders, Nuckles.
5-Miteford, White, Barton, Boston, Shrewsbury, Mickey, Henderson, Howell, Hayne, Mobley, Hudson, Nash, Carmand.
6-Smith, Pettengill, Hyde, Lee, Simonds, Chesnut, McDaniel, Williams, Gardner.
7-Swails, Perrin, James, Johnston, Wimbush, Hayes, Farr, Meade, Thompson, Rainey.”
Unidentified Photographer, Radical Members of the South Carolina Legislature, ca. 1868–72 (442.2005)
Fans in a Flashbulb 
Is there any available information on the individual Radical Members of the South Carolina First Legislature After The War?
I see you asked this months ago, but if you are still interested, I can provide you with the names listed on the back of the card which would assist you in researching those “radical members” mentioned: Barton, Boozer, Boston, Bozeman, Brodie, Cain, Carmand, Chesnut, Cook, Demars, Dickson, Duncan, Dusenberry, Farr, Gardner, Harris, Hayes, Hayne, Henderson, Howell, Hoyt, Hudson, Hyde, Jackson, James, Jillson, Johnston, Lee, Lomax, Martin, Maxwell, Mayes, McDaniel, McKinlay, Meade, Mickery, Miller, Miteford, Mobley, Moses, Nash, Nuckles, Perrin, Pettengill, Rainey, Randolph, Rivers, Sanders, Shrewsbury, Simonds, Smith, Smythe, Swails, Thomas, Thompson, Tomlinson, Webb, White, Wilder, Williams, Wimbush, and Wright. Also, there is an individual online who devoted some time researching those shown and you can click on the information she found row by row: http://emilyevaughn.com/SC1868LegislatureR1.htm
John Gardner (2nd row from the bottom on the end of the row at the right) was my great-great grandfather. I am trying to link the portion of my family to my great-grandfather. I have linked all the way to my great-grandfather and this is the last portion i need in order to move further back into my family history.
Hampton Boston was my 3rd great grand father.
Do you know the whereabouts of the picture from the SC 1868 Constitutional Convention? The proceedings say one was taken, but I’ve never been able to find it!
Does anyone know which one is Julius Mayer from Barnwell?
Thank you for writing.
I’ve just attached the back of the photo, that lists the names of everyone in the photo, but I don’t see the name Mayer…
Thanks.
Thank you, Christopher.
Marie
I think the name was put as Mayes by mistake by the publisher. I don’t think there was a Mayes in that legislature, so it’s possible Mayer is the one down as Mayes – first man from the left in the second line down from the top. Not sure, but it makes sense.
I think the name was put as Mayes by mistake by the publisher. I don’t think there was a Mayes in that legislature, so it’s possible Mayer is the one down as Mayes – first man from the left in the second line down from the top. Not sure, but it makes sense.
Thank you, Sue. I was thinking there must have been a mistake too in the name of Mayes vs Mayer.
Thank you, Sue. I was thinking there must have been a mistake too in the name of Mayes vs Mayer. If based on what you wrote – would Julius Mayer be the first gentleman on the second row?
Is it true that the KKK used this as a “push card” that they sent out to members in order to identify those Republicans pictured as targets?
Eric Foner details the lives of these men in his 1993 book: Freedom’s lawmakers.
I am trying to confirm that Joseph Thompson served as a reconstruction law maker. There is a ‘Thompson ‘ listed at the end of row 7 of the picture. The information that I have (passed down from family) was that his daughter Mary Jane Thompson married Andrew J. Simms. They had a number of children including Andrew Alexander Simms who became a very prominent educator in Union, S.C. How would I confirm this family history?