Lincoln Page #32

floor full of congressmen caucusing and arguing.

The balcony's packed. Mary and Keckley sit at the front,

Nicolay and Hay behind them. The Blairs are among other

officials, rich people, foreign dignitaries.

There's a sudden quiet, then murmuring. Ashley, Stevens and

everyone on the floor look up, Ellis, Hollister, Hutton and

Hawkins among these.

In the balcony, twenty WELL-TO-DO BLACK PEOPLE, mostly men,

are escorted by several Senators, including Sumner and Wade,

to a reserved section of the balcony. The black people glance

at their surroundings but are rigidly composed.

Asa Vintner Litton sees them enter. He looks about, at the

representatives caucusing, or staring up at the visitors.

Something powerful strikes him. In a voice coarse with

emotion, he calls up to the black visitors:

100.

ASA VINTNER LITTON

We welcome you, ladies and

gentlemen, first in the history of

this people's chamber, to your

House!

There's tense applause. Some of the black guests bow; most

aren't sure how to respond.

Yeaman watches this, deeply moved.

Bilbo catches Hawkins's eye and waves. Hawkins looks

anxiously around, blushing.

Everyone is seated, and the place is packed.

Schuyler Colfax is in his high seat atop the rostrum, the

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS to his right. Colfax gavels the House into

session. Ashley is at the podium.

SCHUYLER COLFAX:

Mr. Ashley, the floor is yours.

JAMES ASHLEY:

On the matter of the joint

resolution before us, presenting a

Thirteenth Amendment to our

national Constitution, which was

passed last year by the Senate, and

which has been debated now by this

estimable body for the past several

weeks. Today we will vote...

Cheers, boos, applause.

JAMES ASHLEY (CONT'D)

By mutual agreement we shall hear

brief final statements -

General cheering for this, laughing.

JAMES ASHLEY (CONT'D)

- beginning with the honorable

George Pendleton of Ohio.

Applause, boos. Pendleton, taking the podium, is handed

several letters by Wood. He holds them over his head. The

chamber's quiet.

GEORGE PENDLETON

I've just received confirmation of

what previously has been merely

rumored! Affidavits from loyal

citizens recently returned from

101.

Richmond. They testify that

Commissioners have indeed come

north and ought to have arrived by

now in Washington City! Bearing an

offer of immediate cessation of our

civil war!

The chamber explodes. Through the ensuing ruckus:

FERNANDO WOOD:

(to Ashley, fake shock:)

Are there Confederate commissioners

in the Capitol?

JAMES ASHLEY:

I don't... I have no idea where

they are or if they've arrived or -

FERNANDO WOOD:

If they've arrived?!

GEORGE PENDLETON

I appeal to my fellow Democrats, to

all Republican representatives who

give a fig for peace! Postpone this

vote until we have answers from the

President himself!

In the balcony, Hay and Nicolay exchange worried glances.

FERNANDO WOOD:

Postpone the vote!

Ashley turns to Stevens: "DO SOMETHING!" as Pendleton's

Democrats begin to chant "POSTPONE THE VOTE!"

Mary, worried, looks from Mrs. Keckley to Preston Blair, who

is focused on the leader of the conservative Republican

representatives, AARON HADDAM (R, KY). Haddam looks up at

Preston, awaiting instructions.

Democrats and Republicans rush to the Speaker to support or

protest the motion.

In the balcony, Preston slowly stands, saddened and angry.

FERNANDO WOOD (CONT'D)

I have made a motion! Does anyone

here care to second -

Preston nods at Haddam: "Go ahead." Haddam rises.

102.

AARON HADDAM:

(in a powerful voice:)

Gentlemen.

The conservative faction of border

and western Republicans cannot

approve this amendment, about which

we harbor grave doubts, if a peace

offer is being held hostage to its

success. Joining with our

Democratic colleagues, I second the

motion to postpone.

The debate swells again as, in the balcony, Schell scribbles

in a notebook while Latham whispers furiously in his ear.

Latham rips the page out before Schell's finished; Bilbo

snatches it from him.

ROBERT LATHAM:

Quick, man! Quick!

Bilbo pushes his way out of the balcony. Nicolay, then Hay,

follow on his heels. Mary sees this; she's concerned.

EXT. OUTSIDE THE CAPITOL - AFTERNOON

Hay and Nicolay emerge. They see Bilbo running, far ahead.

Hay immediately sprints after him and trips. Nicolay

continues running.

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