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turning to page one
A gavel slams down on a sounding block in an attempt to silence the raucous tumult in the large chamber. It subsides enough for Colfax to be heard from his chair atop the central dais:
SCHUYLER COLFAX
The House recognizes Fernando Wood,
the honorable representative from
New York.
TITLE: THE HOUSE DEBATE BEGINS
JANUARY 9
Floor and balcony are full,
although the desks of
representatives from seceded states
are bare and unoccupied.
On the Democratic side, 81 members applaud FERNANDO WOOD (D, NY) as he takes the podium. The Democratic leadership, including GEORGE YEAMAN (KY), has gathered around House minority leader GEORGE PENDLETON(OH). On the Republican side of the aisle, enraged booing from the 102 Republicans, including HIRAM PRICE (IA), GEORGE JULIAN (IN), Vintner Litton and Ashley, all gathered around Stevens's desk.
FERNANDO WOOD
Estimable colleagues. Two bloody
years ago this month, his Highness,
King Abraham Africanus the First -
our Great Usurping Caesar, violator
of habeas corpus and freedom of the
press, abuser of states' rights -
HIRAM PRICE FERNANDO WOOD
(loud:) - radical republican
autocrat If Lincoln really were a
ruling by fiat and martial tyrant,
Mr. Wood, he'd'a had law affixed
his name to his your empty head
impaled on a heinous and illicit
pike, and the country better
Emancipation Proclamation, for it!
promising it would hasten the end
of the war, which yet rages on and
on.
Murmuring from the floor and the balcony, in the front row
Schell holds the leather prospectus folio in his lap. Bilbo sits behind them.
They study the other NY Democrats - CHARLES HANSON, NELSON MERRICK, HENRY LANFORD, HOMER BENSON, GILES STUART - who
comprise a cluster of glum uncomfortable passivity on that side of the aisle.
FERNANDO WOOD
He claimed, as tyrants do,
(whispering to Schell:) that the
war's emergencies The New York
delegation's permitted him to turn
our looking decidedly uninspired.
army into the unwilling instrument
of his monarchical ambitions -
Wood points at Stevens, granite-faced. Stevens's eyes burn back at Wood.
FERNANDO WOOD (CONT’D)
- and radical Republicanism's
abolitionist fanaticism!
This prompts shouts and boos from the Republicans.
FERNANDO WOOD (CONT'D)
His Emancipation Proclamation has
obliterated millions of dollars'
worth of personal property rights -
Schell examines the Pennsylvania Democrats: an openly appalled ARCHIBALD MORAN, AMBROSE BAILER, and, chewing his thumb, a painful fake grin pinned to his face, ALEXANDER COFFROTH. Schell leans in to Latham.
FERNANDO WOOD (CONT'D) RICHARD SCHELL
- and "liberated" the Over in
Pennsylvania - who's hundreds of
thousands of the sweaty man eating
his hopelessly indolent Negro
thumb? refugees, bred by nature for
servility, to settle in ROBERT
LATHAM squalor in our Northern
Unknown to me. Seems jumpy. cities!
RICHARD SCHELL
Perhaps he'll jump.
Cheering and booing.
In the Connecticut delegation, JOHN ELLIS winds his pocket watch, looking contemptuously at Wood. Schell makes a note.
FERNANDO WOOD
But all that was not enough Jesus,
when's this son-of- for this
dictator, who now liberty
sonofabitch gonna sit seeks to
insinuate his down? miscegenist
pollution into the Constitution
itself! RICHARD SCHELL John Ellis
is going to break his watch if he
doesn't stop -
FERNANDO WOOD (CONT'D)
We are once again asked - nay,
commanded - to consider a proposed
thirteenth amendment which, if
passed, shall set at immediate
liberty four million coloreds while
manacling the limbs of the white
race in America. If it is passed -
but it shall not pass!
Wild cheering and booing.
FERNANDO WOOD (CONT'D) ROBERT LATHAM
Every member of the House What's
more interesting is loyal to the
Democratic Party how dismal and
disgruntled and the constituents it
Mr. Yeaman appears. He should
serves shall oppose- be cheering
right now, but...
W.N. BILBO
Looks like he ate a bad oyster.
Thaddeus Stevens calls out from his desk.
THADDEUS STEVENS
A point of order, Mr. Speaker, if
you please? When will Mr. Wood -
FERNANDO WOOD
Mr. Speaker, I still have the floor
and the gentleman from Pennsylvania
is out of order!
THADDEUS STEVENS
- when will Mr. Wood conclude his
interminable gabble? Some of us
breathe oxygen, and we find the
mephitic fumes of his oratory a
lethal challenge to our pleural
capacities.
Wild cheering, applause from the Republicans.
FERNANDO WOOD
We shall oppose this amendment, and
any legislation that so affronts
natural law, insulting to God as to
man! Congress must never declare
equal those whom God created
unequal!
The Democrats cheer. Mary watches with concern. Mrs. Keckley is angry and uncomfortable.
THADDEUS STEVENS
Slavery is the only insult to
natural law, you fatuous
nincompoop!
GEORGE PENDLETON
Order! Procedure! Mr. Speaker, Mr.
Wood has the floor!
(TO STEVENS:)
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 surge towards Wood, Republicans towards Stevens. Ashley rushes to Colfax,
CALLING:
JAMES ASHLEY
Mr. Colfax! Please, use your gavel!
They are -
(to the Democrats:)
You are out of order!
(TO COLFAX:)
Direct the sergeant of arms to
suppress this!
(back to the Democrats:)
We are in session!