Lincoln Page #25

JANUARY 27

Ashley, Colfax, and Stevens approach Stevens's desk. Colfax

nods towards the journalists in the balcony:

SCHUYLER COLFAX:

The World, the Herald and the

Times, New York, Chicago, the

Journal of Commerce, even your

hometown paper's here.

JAMES ASHLEY:

(TO STEVENS:
)

Say you believe only in legal

equality for all races, not racial

equality, I beg you, sir.

Compromise. Or you risk it all.

Stevens sees Mary, with Mrs. Keckley, claiming front seats

from two journalists.

INT. HOUSE CHAMBER, THE CAPITOL - LATER

Stevens, at the podium, is being challenged by Fernando Wood,

standing at his desk.

FERNANDO WOOD:

I've asked you a question, Mr.

Stevens, and you must answer me. Do

you or do you not hold that the

precept that "all men are created

equal" is meant literally?

All eyes are on Stevens, the chamber quiet except for a

scratching sound: the journalists have begun scribbling.

FERNANDO WOOD (CONT'D)

Is that not the true purpose of the

amendment? To promote your ultimate

and ardent dream to elevate -

THADDEUS STEVENS

The true purpose of the amendment,

Mr. Wood, you perfectly-named,

brainless, obstructive object?

78.

FERNANDO WOOD:

You have always insisted, Mr.

Stevens, that Negroes are the same

as white men are.

THADDEUS STEVENS

The true purpose of the amendment -

Stevens looks up at the balcony, at the waiting journalists,

and Mary, who raises her eyebrows, then at Ashley and Litton

at their desks. Seward watches from the balcony.

Stevens returns to Wood.

THADDEUS STEVENS (CONT'D)

I don't hold with equality in all

things only with equality before

the law and nothing more.

FERNANDO WOOD:

(SURPRISED:
)

That's not so! You believe that

Negroes are entirely equal to white

men. You've said it a thousand

TIMES -

GEORGE PENDLETON

(leaping to his feet)

For shame! For shame! Stop

prevaricating and answer

Representative Wood!

THADDEUS STEVENS GEORGE PENDLETON

I don't hold with equality in (stands:)

all things, only with After the decades of fervent

equality before the law and advocacy on behalf of the

nothing more. colored race -

JAMES ASHLEY:

(LEAPING UP:
)

He's answered your questions! This

amendment has naught to do with

race equality!

Pendleton persists, through cheers and catcalls.

GEORGE PENDLETON THADDEUS STEVENS

You have long insisted, have I don't hold with equality in

you not, that the dusk- all things only with equality

colored race is no different before the law and nothing

from the white one. more.

79.

Among the amendment's supporters, including Vintner Litton, a

GROUP OF WOMEN SUFFRAGISTS in the balcony, and Elizabeth

Keckley, there's visible, audible shock and dismay at

Stevens's capitulation. Mary's surprised by Stevens, and

impressed.

MARY:

(whispering to Mrs.

KECKLEY:
)

Who'd ever've guessed that old

nightmare capable of such control?

He might make a politician someday -

ELIZABETH KECKLEY

(STANDING ABRUPTLY:)

I need to go.

Mary's startled. Mrs. Keckley leaves the balcony, pushing

past journalists. On the floor:

GEORGE PENDLETON

Your frantic attempt to delude us

now is unworthy of a

representative. It is, in fact,

unworthy of a white man!

THADDEUS STEVENS

(giving in to his anger:)

How can I hold that all men are

created equal, when here before me -

(pointing to Pendleton:)

- stands stinking the moral carcass

of the gentleman from Ohio, proof

that some men are inferior, endowed

by their Maker with dim wits

impermeable to reason with cold

pallid slime in their veins instead

of hot red blood! You are more

reptile than man, George, so low

and flat that the foot of man is

incapable of crushing you!

General uproar.

GEORGE PENDLETON

HOW DARE YOU!

THADDEUS STEVENS

Yet even you, Pendleton, who should

have been gibbetted for treason

long before today, even worthless

unworthy you ought to be treated

equally before the law! And so

again, sir, and again and again and

80.

again I say:
I DO NOT HOLD WITH

EQUALITY IN ALL THINGS. ONLY WITH

EQUALITY BEFORE THE LAW.

Ashley sits, nearly weeping with relief, while the chamber

explodes:
laughter, applause, boos.

GEORGE PENDLETON

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