Lincoln (2012)

Jackie Earle Haley: Alexander Stephens

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Quotes 

• Ulysses S. Grant : If you want to discuss peace with President Lincoln, consider revisions.

  Alexander Stephens : If we're not to discuss a truce between warring nations, what in heaven's name can we discuss?

  Ulysses S. Grant : Terms of surrender.

• Abraham Lincoln : If we submit ourselves to law, even submit to losing freedoms, the freedom to oppress, for instance, we may discover other freedoms previously unknown to us. Had you kept faith with democratic process, as frustrating as that can be...

  Judge John A. Campbell : Come sir, spare us these pieties. Did you defeat us with ballots?

  Alexander Stephens : How have you held your Union together? Through democracy? How many hundreds of thousands have died during your administration? Your union, sir, is bonded in cannon fire and death.

  Abraham Lincoln : It may be you're right. But say all we done is show the world that democracy isn't chaos, that there is a great invisible strength in a people's union? Say we've shown that a people can endure awful sacrifice and yet cohere? Mightn't that save at least the idea of democracy, to aspire to? Eventually to become worthy of? At all rates, whatever must be proven by blood and sacrifice must have been proved by now. Shall we stop this bleeding?

• Ulysses S. Grant : [Grant hands the Confederate peace commissioner's proposal back to them, covered in scribbled notes]  Gentlemen, I suggest you work some changes into your proposal before you give it to the President.

  [Turns and walks away. Stephens follows] 

  Senator R.M.T. Hunter : We're eager to be on our way to Washington.

  Alexander Stephens : Mr Lincoln tell you to tell us this?

  Ulysses S. Grant : [Grant takes a cup of coffee from a steward]  It says 'securing peace for our two countries' and it goes on like that.

  Alexander Stephens : I don't know what you...

  Ulysses S. Grant : There's just one country. You and I, we're citizens of that country. I'm fighting to protect it from armed rebels.

  [Pats Stephen's shoulder and goes to sit down] 

  Ulysses S. Grant : From you.

• [the three Confederate peace representatives cross the border into Union territory; heading towards their carriage, they balk when they see it being guarded by black soldiers. At last, Stephens steps toward the waiting door] 

  Alexander Stephens : [to soldiers]  Much obliged.