|
Description:
|
Stereotypical depiction of two slaves celebrating the fact that they have been declared contraband. The words "D. Murphy's Son, Print. 65 Fulton & 372 Pearl Street, N.Y." appear to the left of the image. The image is a reference to General Benjamin Butler's "contraband" policy, by which escaping slaves reaching Union lines would not be returned to slavery. Butler, a trained attorney, used Virginia's secession to argue that under international law that escaped slaves were "contraband of war" and he was not required to return them to their former owners. |
