Lincoln - Debate on Equality and the Amendment's Purpose
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? Is that 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?
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... I don't hold with equality in all things, only with equality before the law and nothing more.
Fernando Wood:
That's not true! You believe that Negroes are entirely equal to white men. You've said it a thousand times—
George Pendleton:
For shame! For shame! Stop prevaricating and answer Representative Wood!
Thaddeus Stevens:
I don't hold with equality in all things, only with equality before the law and nothing more.
George Pendleton:
After the decades fervent advocacy on behalf of the colored race—
James Ashley:
He's answered your questions! This amendment has naught to do with race equality!
George Pendleton:
You have long insisted, have you not that the dusk-colored race is no different from the white one?
Thaddeus Stevens:
I don't hold with equality before in all things, only with equality before the law and nothing more.
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:
How can I hold that all men are created equal, when here before me 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!
George Pendleton:
How dare you!
Thaddeus Stevens:
Yet even you, Pendleton, who should have been gibbeted 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 again I say: I do not hold with equality in all things. Only with equality before the law.
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Lincoln - Debating the Anti-Slavery Amendment in Congress
Abraham Lincoln:
Well, Mr. Representative Ashley! Tell us the news from the Hill.
James Ashley:
Ah! Well, news...
Abraham Lincoln:
Why for instance is this thus, and what is the reason for this thusness?
William Seward:
James, we want you to bring the anti-slavery amendment to the floor for debate...
James Ashley:
Excuse me? What?
William Seward:
...immediately, and... you are the amendment's manager, are you not?
James Ashley:
I am, of course, but... immediately?
William Seward:
And we're counting on robust radical support, so tell Mr. Stevens we expect him to put his back into it, it's not going to be easy, but we trust...
James Ashley:
It's impossible. No, I am sorry, no, we can't organize anything immediately in the House. I have been canvassing the Democrats since the election, in case any of them softened after they got walloped. But they have stiffened if anything, Mr. Secretary. There aren't nearly enough votes—
Abraham Lincoln:
We're whalers, Mr. Ashley!
James Ashley:
Whalers? As in, uh, whales?
Abraham Lincoln: [slaps Ashley's shoulder]
We've been chasing this whale for a long time. We've finally placed a harpoon in the monster's back. It's in, James, it's in! We finish the deed now, we can't wait! Or with one flop of his tail, he'll smash the boat and send us all to eternity!
William Seward:
On the 31st of this month, of this year, put the amendment up for a vote.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.