US 19th Century Political Cartoons Mocking Haiti

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Fascinating political cartoon mocking John Q. Adams as a supporter for Haitian recognition in Congress. Here we see how racist 19th century US readers had all their worst fears and stereotypes reified: the image of the black Haitian ambassador dressed like a buffoon who can barely speak English (yet is mocked in the way African-American slaves were), the danger of interracial sex and marriage, and the absurdity of black men as 'gentlemen' and civilized subjects. Although Haiti would not be recognized by the US until the Lincoln administration in the midst of a Civil War, US trade with Haiti remained important (especially US foodstuffs and some manufactures) while Haitian coffee was imported (that is, until the rise of the Brazilian coffee industry in the second half of the 19th century). Of course, no Haitian diplomats were ever received in Haiti prior to the 1860s, so this is pure fiction. Just imagine, Adams introducing a Haitian diplomat as an eligible bachelor for white women!