INT. FLOOR OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - DAY

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 of which Mary and Elizabeth Keckley sit. Mary turns her gaze from the floor to watch Latham and Schell, a few seats away, scrutinize the floor, whispering, Latham taking notes. 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 35.

comprise a cluster of glum uncomfortable passivity on that side of the aisle.

FERNANDO WOOD (CONT'D) ROBERT LATHAM 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. 36.

FERNANDO WOOD (CONT'D) W.N. BILBO 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. 37.

           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!