Lincoln (2012)

Bill Raymond: Schuyler Colfax

Photos 

Quotes 

• Clerk - Edward McPherson : Roll call concludes. Voting is completed. Now...

  Schuyler Colfax : Mr. clerk? Please call my name. I want to cast a vote.

  George Pendleton : I object! The Speaker doesn't vote.

  Clerk - Edward McPherson : The Speaker may vote if he so chooses.

  George Pendleton : It is highly unusual, sir.

  Schuyler Colfax : This isn't usual, Mr. Pendleton. This is history.

• Abraham Lincoln : I did say *some* colored men, the intelligent, the educated, and veterans, I qualified it.

  James Ashley : Mr. Stevens is furious. He wants to know why you qualified it.

  Schuyler Colfax : No one heard the "intelligent" or the "educated" part. All they heard was the first time any president has ever made mention of Negro voting.

  Abraham Lincoln : Still, I wish I'd mentioned it in a better speech.

  James Ashley : Mr. Stevens also wants to know why you didn't make a better speech.

• George Pendleton : Instruct us, oh, Great Commoner. What is unnatural, in your opinion? Niggrahs casting ballots? Niggrah representatives? Is that natural, Stevens? Intermarriage?

  Thaddeus Stevens : What violates natural law? Slavery and you! Pendleton, you insult God. You unnatural noise.

  [an avalanche of boos and cheers as Democrats rally to Wood, Republicans rally to Stevens] 

  James Ashley : Mr. Colfax! Please, use your gavel! They are...

  [to Democrats] 

  James Ashley : You are out of order!

  Schuyler Colfax : [banging the gavel]  Order in the chamber!

  James Ashley : [shouting to Colfax]  Direct the sergeant of arms to suppress this!

  [to Democrats] 

  James Ashley : We are in session!

• Schuyler Colfax : [gavels the House to order]  The floor belongs to the mellifluent gentleman from Kentucky, Mr. George Yeaman.

  George Yeaman : [Democrats applaud as Yeaman approaches the podium]  I thank you, Speaker Colfax.

  [surveys the chamber and addresses the House] 

  George Yeaman : Although I'm disgusted by slavery

  [calls of agreement from Republicans] 

  George Yeaman : I rise on this sad and solemn day to announce that I'm opposed to the amendment.

  [calls of agreement from Democrats] 

  George Yeaman : We must consider what will become of colored folk if four million are in one instant set free.

  Asa Vintner Litton : They'll be free, George! That's what'll become of them!

  George Yeaman : [...]  And we will be forced to enfranchise the men of the colored race... it would be inhuman not to! Who among us is prepared to give Negroes the vote?

  [momentarily silenced by cheers and boos throughout the chamber] 

  George Yeaman : And... and... what shall follow upon that? Universal enfranchisement? Votes for women? We...

  [stops, baffled and dismayed by the explosion provoked]