House passage of the 13th Amendment
The House of Representatives votes to pass the 13th Amendment, abolishing slavery in the United States, with President Lincoln present to witness the historic moment.
Setting
House Chamber, United States Capitol, Washington D.C.
Characters
Abraham Lincoln
primary
Tall, gaunt figure with deep-set eyes, prominent cheekbones, and a weathered face framed by a short beard. His wiry frame stands at 6'4", towering over others in the chamber. His hands are large and bony, resting quietly at his sides.
Thaddeus Stevens
primary
A tall, gaunt man in his early seventies with a pronounced limp from a club foot, his sharp features accentuated by deep-set eyes and a severe expression. His wig is slightly askew, revealing thinning grey hair beneath.
Schuyler Colfax
secondary
A middle-aged man of average height with a sturdy build, clean-shaven face, and sharp, observant eyes. His hair is neatly combed and slightly graying at the temples, giving him an air of authority and experience.
Congressional Clerk
secondary
A middle-aged man with a lean build, clean-shaven face, and wire-rimmed spectacles perched on his nose. His hands are ink-stained from years of meticulous record-keeping.
Black Servant
background
A middle-aged freedman with a wiry frame and deep-set eyes that hold years of hardship. His dark skin is weathered, and his hands are calloused from years of labor. He stands slightly hunched, as if still carrying the weight of his past.
Dialog
Abraham Lincoln
The vote is carried. Like a river after storm, the current of justice flows at last.
Thaddeus Stevens
Four million souls unshackled today. Yet a thousand battles remain to make this ink manifest.
Schuyler Colfax
The House having achieved the requisite two-thirds majority, the joint resolution is adopted.
Abraham Lincoln
This amendment is the King's cure for all evils. It winds the watch for generations unborn.
Thaddeus Stevens
Let future historians mark this hour - when democracy proved capable of redeeming its own sins.
Schuyler Colfax
The Clerk will record this resolution for transmission to the States.
Abraham Lincoln
Now let us turn our hands to binding up the nation's wounds.