與廢除奴隸制相關(guān)的詞匯
abolish v. 廢除,廢止;abolition n. 廢除奴隸制度;abolitionist n. 廢奴主義者
emancipate v. 解放,從奴役、壓迫或束縛中解放出來(lái);emancipation n. 解放,解脫enfranchise v. 賦予公民權(quán),尤其是選舉權(quán) liberate v. 解放;liberation n. 解放franchise v. 授某人以參政權(quán)或公民權(quán) vote v. 投票
中國(guó)人大都會(huì)把林肯與美國(guó)奴隸制度的廢除聯(lián)系在一起,也知道他因此在美國(guó)歷屆總統(tǒng)排行榜中名列前茅??墒牵绹?guó)2012年推出的《林肯》一片讓他們失望了。片中除林肯總統(tǒng)等兩三個(gè)人外,眾多美國(guó)政治上的歷史人物,大量的歷史細(xì)節(jié),再加上繁雜的美國(guó)政治制度,讓中國(guó)觀眾大呼“看不懂”、“沉悶”、“無(wú)聊”。但正如一位網(wǎng)友所說(shuō),這本不是拍給你看的電影,你在期待些什么?(說(shuō)實(shí)話,能夠認(rèn)出這些人物,明白當(dāng)時(shí)情況的美國(guó)人也不多。)我們都知道《解放黑奴宣言》(Emancipation Proclamation),但絕大多數(shù)人并不了解,它只不過(guò)是總統(tǒng)頒發(fā)的行政命令,法律效力其實(shí)非常有限;同時(shí),林肯擔(dān)心它會(huì)在戰(zhàn)后被視為戰(zhàn)時(shí)的臨時(shí)措施而失效。因此,林肯在南北戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)將近結(jié)束之際,迫切希望通過(guò)一個(gè)憲法的修正案來(lái)永遠(yuǎn)地廢除奴隸制。
更確切地說(shuō),電影名字不應(yīng)該叫《林肯》,因?yàn)樗v述的是林肯在短短的一個(gè)月時(shí)間里,為了讓廢除奴隸制的憲法第十三修正案在眾議院通過(guò)而作出的種種努力。林肯及其幕僚們動(dòng)員一切資源,用盡一切辦法,絞盡腦汁,逐個(gè)說(shuō)服持反對(duì)意見的、猶豫不決的和激進(jìn)的眾議員,一票一票地爭(zhēng)取,最終讓修正案在眾議院獲得通過(guò),贏得了歷史性的勝利。在電影中,我們看到,以不肯妥協(xié)著稱的林肯是如何妥協(xié)、讓步的;我們看到,歷史如何在爭(zhēng)吵中前進(jìn);我們看到,好的法律是怎樣煉成的……而一位廢奴論者在修正案通過(guò)后的一句話,在人們耳邊長(zhǎng)久回響:The greatest measure of the Nineteenth Century, passed by corruption, aided and abetted by the purest man in America.
盡管影片不缺批評(píng)者,但更多的是不絕于耳的贊譽(yù)之聲。當(dāng)然,該片斬獲無(wú)數(shù)獎(jiǎng)項(xiàng),其中包括七項(xiàng)金球獎(jiǎng)、英國(guó)電影學(xué)院獎(jiǎng)的最佳男主角獎(jiǎng)(共有10項(xiàng)提名),以及奧斯卡12項(xiàng)提名中的最佳男主角獎(jiǎng)和最佳藝術(shù)指導(dǎo)獎(jiǎng)。而飾演林肯總統(tǒng)的丹尼爾·戴-劉易斯(Daniel Day-Lewis)則幾乎囊括了所有被提名的最佳男主角獎(jiǎng)。
Complication 難題
(President Abraham Lincoln and his Secretary of State William Seward are discussing how to get the Thirteenth Amendment passed in the House of Representatives.)
Seward: Well, consider the obstacles that wed face. The 1)aforementioned two-thirds majority needed to pass an amendment. We have a Republican majority, but barely more than 50%.
Lincoln: Fifty-six.
Seward: We need Democratic support. Theres none to be had.
Lincoln: Since the House last voted on the amendment, theres been an election. Sixty-four Democrats lost their House seats in November, thats...sixty-four Democrats looking for work come March.
Seward: I know.
Lincoln: They dont need to worry about reelection. They can vote however it suits em.
(亞伯拉罕·林肯總統(tǒng)與國(guó)務(wù)卿威廉·蘇厄德在討論如何讓憲法的第十三修正案能夠在眾議院獲得通過(guò)。)
蘇厄德:好,想想我們可能會(huì)面臨的障礙吧。之前提到需要有三分之二的人投贊成票。在共和黨人中,我們有優(yōu)勢(shì),但也只是比一半多一點(diǎn)。
林肯:百分之五十六。
蘇厄德:我們需要民主黨的支持,而我們沒有。
林肯:眾議院上一次投票否決了修正案之后,我們進(jìn)行了大選。11月大選時(shí)有64%的民主黨人失去了他們?cè)诒娮h院的席位,就是說(shuō)……這64%的民主黨眾議員到了今年三月就需要重新找工作了。
蘇厄德:我知道。
林肯:他們已經(jīng)不需要擔(dān)心連任的事,他們可以由著自己的想法來(lái)投票了。
Seward: But we cant, um...buy the vote for the amendment. Its too important.
Lincoln: I said nothing of buying anything. We need 20 votes was all I said. Start of my second term, plenty of positions to fill.
(Lincoln speaks to his cabinet.)
Lincoln: Two years ago, I proclaimed these people*emancipated, “then, thenceforward and forever free.” But lets say the courts decide I had no authority to do it. They might well decide that. Say theres no amendment abolishing slavery. Says after the war, and I can no longer use my war powers to just ignore the courts decisions, like I sometimes felt I had to do, might those people Id freed be ordered back into slavery? Thats why Id like to get the Thirteenth Amendment through the House, and on its way to 2)ratification by the states, wrap the whole slavery thing up, forever and 3)aye, as soon as Im able. Now! End of this month! And Id like you to stand behind me, like my cabinets most always done.
蘇厄德:但是我們不能,呃……為了這個(gè)修正案的通過(guò)去收買票數(shù),這件事太重要了。
林肯:我從沒有說(shuō)要去買通什么,我只是說(shuō)我們還需要20張選票。而我的第二個(gè)任期開始以后,會(huì)有很多工作職位空缺。
(林肯對(duì)內(nèi)閣成員講話。)
林肯:兩年前我宣布,他們可以翻身做主,“從此以后獲得永遠(yuǎn)的自由”??墒牵僭O(shè)法庭裁定我沒有權(quán)力這么做——法庭很可能這么裁定,假設(shè)沒有廢除奴隸的修正案,假設(shè)戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)結(jié)束后,我就不能再使用戰(zhàn)時(shí)的權(quán)力來(lái)無(wú)視法庭的裁定——其實(shí)有時(shí)候我覺得我必須這么做,這些已經(jīng)被我解放了的人們,會(huì)不會(huì)被迫重新成為奴隸?這就是為什么我需要在我還有這個(gè)能力的時(shí)候,讓眾議院討論通過(guò)第十三修正案,然后再獲得各州的批準(zhǔn),結(jié)束整個(gè)奴隸制度,永遠(yuǎn)地結(jié)束它。就是現(xiàn)在,在這個(gè)月底。我需要你們支持我,我的內(nèi)閣一向都支持我。
Compromise 妥協(xié)
(January 17, Lincoln talks to Thaddeus Stevens, a fervent abolitionist.)
Lincoln: Since we have the floor next in the debate, I thought Id suggest you might 4)temper your contributions so as not to frighten our conservative friends.
Stevens: 5)Ashley insists youre ensuring approval by dispensing 6)patronage to otherwise undeserving Democrats.
Lincoln: I cant ensure a single damn thing if you scare the whole House silly with talk of land 7)appropriations, revolutionary 8)tribunals, punitive... Stevens: When the war ends, I intend to push for full equality, the Negro votes, and much more. Congress shall mandate the seizure of every foot of rebel land and every dollar of their property. Well use their 9)confiscated wealth to establish hundreds of thousands of free Negro farmers, and at their side soldiers armed to occupy and transform the heritage of traitors. Well build up a land down there of free men and free women and free children and freedom. The nation needs to know that we have such plans.
Lincoln: Thats the 10)untempered version of reconstruction. Its not...its not quite exactly what I intend, but we shall oppose one another in the course of time. Now were working together, and Im asking you...
Stevens: For patience, I expect.
(1月17日,林肯與強(qiáng)硬的廢奴論者撒迪厄斯·史蒂文斯談話。)
林肯:鑒于下一次眾議院辯論輪到我們發(fā)言,我想建議您,不要……過(guò)于夸大自己的貢獻(xiàn),以免嚇到我們保守派的朋友們。
史蒂文斯:阿什利議員堅(jiān)持主張您通過(guò)向那些本不具備資質(zhì)的民主黨人承諾工作崗位來(lái)拉票。
林肯:可是,如果您夸夸其談,嚇壞了眾議院的所有人,那我可就什么都不能保證了,比如談什么土地征用、革命法庭、懲罰性的……
史蒂文斯:戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)結(jié)束以后,我打算努力爭(zhēng)取黑人與白人的完全平等,爭(zhēng)取黑人的選舉權(quán),還有很多其他的。國(guó)會(huì)應(yīng)該下令沒收所有南方叛軍的土地,以及他們的全部財(cái)產(chǎn)。我們可以用這些沒收的財(cái)產(chǎn),扶助成百上千獲得自由的黑人農(nóng)民。在那里,讓武裝士兵們占領(lǐng),并改造這些叛徒的遺產(chǎn)。我們會(huì)讓那片土地上生活著自由的男男女女和自由的孩子,那將是一片充滿著自由的土地。人民需要知道我們有此計(jì)劃。
林肯:那其實(shí)就是未經(jīng)妥協(xié)和修改的重建計(jì)劃。這不是……不是我的確切意圖。以后我們可以再就此事進(jìn)行辯論?,F(xiàn)在我們是在合作,我想請(qǐng)求您……
史蒂文斯:我想是讓我要耐心吧。
Lincoln: When the people disagree, bringing them together requires going slow till theyre ready to make up.
Stevens: The people elected me! To represent them! To lead them! And I lead! You ought to try it!
Lincoln: I admire your zeal, Mr. Stevens, and I have tried to profit from the example of it. If Id listened to you, Idve declared every slave free the minute the first shell struck *Fort Sumter. Then the border states wouldve gone over to the *Confederacy, the war wouldve been lost and the Union along with it, and instead of abolishing slavery, as we hope to do in two weeks, wed be watching helpless as infants as it spread from the American South into South America.
Stevens: Oh God, how you have longed to say that to me. You claim you trust them. But you know what the people are. You know that the inner compass that should direct the soul toward justice has 11)ossified in white men and women, north and south, unto utter uselessness through tolerating the evil of slavery. White people cannot bear the thought of sharing this countrys infinite abundance with Negroes.
Lincoln: A compass, I learnt when I was surveying, itll...itll point you True North from where youre standing, but its got no advice about the swamps and deserts and 12)chasms that youll encounter along the way. If in pursuit of your destination, you plunge ahead, heedless of obstacles, and achieve nothing more than to sink in a swamp...whats the use of knowing True North?
(January 27, on the floor of the House of Representatives.)
Fernando Wood (Congressman): Ive asked you a question, Mr. Stevens, and you must answer me. Do you or do you not hold that the 13)precept that “all men are created equal” is meant literally? Is that not the true purpose of the amendment? To promote your ultimate and 14)ardent dream to elevate...
Stevens: The true purpose of the amendment, Mr. Wood, you perfectly-named, brainless, obstructive object…
Wood: Now you have always insisted, Mr. Stevens, that Negroes are the same as white men are.
Stevens: The true purpose of the amendment...I dont hold with equality in all things, only with equality before the law and nothing more.
林肯:當(dāng)人民有不同意見的時(shí)候,想要把他們團(tuán)結(jié)起來(lái),就需要慢慢來(lái),讓他們準(zhǔn)備好和解。
史蒂文斯:是人民把我選了出來(lái)!為了代表他們!引領(lǐng)他們!我正是要引領(lǐng)他們!您也應(yīng)該試著這么做!
林肯:我欽佩您的熱情,史蒂文斯先生,我也曾努力從中受益。如果我聽從了您的意見,那在第一枚炮彈落在薩姆特堡時(shí),我就會(huì)宣布解放所有奴隸。那樣,處于南北交界處的各州就會(huì)投向南部邦聯(lián),戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)就宣告失利,國(guó)家也不復(fù)存在。我們會(huì)像嬰兒一樣,無(wú)助地看著戰(zhàn)火從美國(guó)南部蔓延至整個(gè)南美。而不是像現(xiàn)在這樣,可以希望在兩周后廢除奴隸制。
史蒂文斯:噢,上帝啊,您肯定想對(duì)我說(shuō)這些好久了。您聲稱自己信任人民,但您知道人民是什么樣的嗎?您知道我們內(nèi)心的指南針本應(yīng)指引靈魂向公正,但它在白人心中早已毫無(wú)用處,不論南方還是北方皆如此,他們都在姑息邪惡的奴隸制。白人就是無(wú)法忍受跟黑人共享這個(gè)地大物博的國(guó)家。
林肯:我在勘探中曾經(jīng)用過(guò)指南針。我知道,它能根據(jù)你所處的位置指出正北方向,但它對(duì)你在路上會(huì)遇到的如沼澤、沙漠、陷坑等卻無(wú)能為力。在前往目的地的路上,如果你一味向前,不考慮任何障礙,最終只會(huì)深陷沼澤,那知道正北方向又有什么用呢?
(1月27日,在眾議院里。)
費(fèi)爾南多·伍德(眾議員):我問(wèn)您一個(gè)問(wèn)題,史蒂文斯先生,請(qǐng)務(wù)必回答。請(qǐng)問(wèn)您是否真的相信“人人生而平等”?這是修正案的真正目的么?您那激越的最終夢(mèng)想是提高……
史蒂文斯:修正案的真正目的,伍德先生,你這個(gè)人如其名、愚蠢、礙手礙腳的東西……
伍德:史蒂文斯先生,您一直堅(jiān)持認(rèn)為黑人和白人是平等的。
史蒂文斯:修正案的真正目的是……我不認(rèn)為一切事物都是平等的,只認(rèn)同一切事物在法律面前地位平等,除此之外再無(wú)其它。
(After the debate)
Asa Vintner Litton (Congressman): You asked...if ever I was surprised. Today...Mr. Stevens, I was surprised. Youve led the battle for race equality for 30 years! The basis of...of every hope for this countrys future life, you denied Negro equality! Im 15)nauseated. You refused to say that all humans are, well...human! Have you lost your very soul, Mr. Stevens? Is there nothing you wont say?
Stevens: Im sorry youre nauseous, Asa, that must be unpleasant. I want the amendment to pass. So that the Constitutions first and only mention of slavery is its absolute prohibition. For this amendment, for which I have worked all of my life and for which countless colored men and women have fought and died and now hundreds of thousands of soldiers. No, sir, no. It seems there is very nearly nothing I wont say.
(辯論后)
阿薩·文廷納·利頓(眾議員):您問(wèn)我是否驚訝。就在今天……史蒂文斯先生,我驚訝了。您引領(lǐng)種族平等斗爭(zhēng)三十年了,那是國(guó)家未來(lái)所有希望的基礎(chǔ)。您居然否認(rèn)了黑人的平等權(quán)利!真是讓人作嘔。您拒絕承認(rèn)所有人都生而為……人!您失去了您的靈魂么,史蒂文斯先生?還有什么是您不敢說(shuō)的嗎?
史蒂文斯:真抱歉讓你感覺不適,阿薩,那肯定很難受。我希望修正案能夠通過(guò),這樣才能使得憲法第一次提及奴隸制時(shí),惟一提到奴隸制的條文,便是對(duì)其的明令禁止。為了這份修正案,為了我奮斗終生的事業(yè),為了那些在抗?fàn)幍牡缆飞汐I(xiàn)身的黑人,為了如今那些成百上千戰(zhàn)死的戰(zhàn)士,沒有什么話是我不敢說(shuō)的,先生,沒有。似乎沒有什么東西是我不敢說(shuō)的。
Persuasion 說(shuō)服
(Lincoln talks to a member of the House of Representatives, George Yeaman.)
Yeaman: I cant vote for the amendment, Mr. Lincoln.
Lincoln: I saw a barge once, Mr. Yeaman, filled with colored men in chains heading down the Mississippi to the New Orleans slave markets. It sickened me. And more than that, it brought a shadow down, a 16)pall around my eyes. Slavery troubled me as long as I can remember.
Yeaman: I...I hate it, too, sir...slavery, but...but were entirely unready for emancipation. Theres too many questions...
Lincoln: Were unready for peace too, aint we? Yeah, when it comes, itll present us with 17)conundrums and dangers greater than any weve faced during the war, bloody as its been. Well have to 18)extemporize and experiment with what it is, when it is. I read your speech, George. Negroes and the vote, thats a puzzle.
Yeaman: No, no, but-but-but, but Negroes cant...vote, Mr. Lincoln. Youre not suggesting we enfranchise colored people?
Lincoln: Im asking only that you 19)disenthrall yourself from the slave powers. Whats before us now, thats the vote on the Thirteenth Amendment. Its going to be so very close. You see what you can do.
(林肯與眾議員喬治·也門談話。)
也門:我不能對(duì)修正案投贊成票,林肯先生。
林肯:我曾經(jīng)看見過(guò)一條駁船,也門先生,滿載帶著鐐銬的黑人,沿著密西西比河順流而下,前往新奧爾良的奴隸市場(chǎng)。我對(duì)此感到厭惡。更甚的是,它讓我的眼前蒙上了一層陰影。自我記事起,奴隸制就一直困擾著我。
也門:我……我也厭惡……奴隸制,先生,但……我們還沒有完全做好解放黑奴的準(zhǔn)備,有太多的問(wèn)題……
林肯:那我們也還未做好迎接和平的準(zhǔn)備,對(duì)么?是啊,當(dāng)那個(gè)時(shí)刻到來(lái),我們將面臨許多難題,比戰(zhàn)時(shí)更大的危險(xiǎn)局面,且同樣血腥。我們需要根據(jù)情況變化做出調(diào)整。我看過(guò)您的演講稿,喬治,黑人與選舉權(quán),這是個(gè)難題。
也門:不,不對(duì),但是……但是……但是黑人不能有……投票權(quán),林肯先生。您該不是提議讓黑人有投票的權(quán)利吧?
林肯:我只請(qǐng)求您先別糾纏于奴隸日后可能擁有的權(quán)利。我們要面對(duì)的,是第十三修正案的投票表決。投票結(jié)果會(huì)非常接近。您自己權(quán)衡一下吧。
小鏈接
Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. (合眾國(guó)境內(nèi)或者屬合眾國(guó)管轄區(qū)域內(nèi),不準(zhǔn)有奴隸制或強(qiáng)迫勞役的存在,惟用以懲罰犯罪者不在此限。)
——The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
Victory 勝利
(Lincoln talks to his staff.)
Lincoln: Were stepped out upon the worlds stage now, NOW! With the fate of human dignity in our hands! Bloods been spilt to afford us this moment! Now, now, now! See what is before you! See the here and now! Thats the hardest thing, the only thing that accounts! Abolishing slavery by constitutional provision settles the fate, for all coming time, not only of the millions now in bondage, but of unborn millions to come. Two votes stand in its way, these votes must be
20)procured!
Seward: We need two yeses, three 21)abstentions, or four yeses and one more abstention and the amendment will pass.
Lincoln: You got a night and a day and a night and several perfectly good hours, now get the hell out of here and get em!
(January 31, the voting day in the House of Representatives.)
The final vote: eight absent or not voting, fifty six votes against, one hundred nineteen votes for, with a margin of two votes...
Stevens: The greatest measure of the Nineteenth Century, passed by corruption, aided and 22)abetted by the purest man in America.
(林肯與助手談話。)
林肯:我們已經(jīng)登上了世界的舞臺(tái),就是現(xiàn)在!人類尊嚴(yán)的命運(yùn)掌握在我們手里!為了這個(gè)時(shí)刻我們已經(jīng)犧牲了太多太多的生命!時(shí)機(jī)就是現(xiàn)在,現(xiàn)在,現(xiàn)在!看看你們面臨著什么吧!看看眼前的世界!這才是最困難的一件事,也是惟一重要的一件事!以修憲的方式來(lái)廢除奴隸制不單會(huì)改變數(shù)以百萬(wàn)計(jì)的奴隸未來(lái)的命運(yùn),還將改變數(shù)百萬(wàn)尚未來(lái)到這個(gè)世界的黑人的命運(yùn)。現(xiàn)在還差兩票,我們必須設(shè)法拿到這兩票!
蘇厄德:我們需要兩票贊成,三票棄權(quán);或者四票贊成,一票棄權(quán),修正案就能夠通過(guò)了。
林肯:你們還有一個(gè)晚上、一個(gè)白天,再加一個(gè)晚上和幾小時(shí)來(lái)搞定他們。現(xiàn)在趕緊給我去搞定!
(1月31日,眾議院的表決日。)
最終結(jié)果:八位缺席,或者說(shuō)沒有表決,五十六票反對(duì),一百一十九票贊成,兩票之差……
史蒂文斯:這是美國(guó)十九世紀(jì)最為偉大的舉措,卻借助賄賂而得以通過(guò),而支持者和教唆者卻是美國(guó)最為純潔的人。
翻譯:Portia
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Confederacy 南部邦聯(lián),全稱為Confederate States of America。這是由在美國(guó)南北戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)爆發(fā)前脫離聯(lián)邦的南部州組成的政府,前后共有11個(gè)州,其臨時(shí)政府在1861年2月成立于亞拉巴馬州首府蒙哥馬利,臨時(shí)總統(tǒng)為杰弗遜·戴維斯(Jefferson Davis),南北戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)結(jié)束之日即瓦解。
Emancipation Proclamation 《解放黑奴宣言》,美國(guó)時(shí)任林肯總統(tǒng)于1863年1月1日頒布的行政命令。它規(guī)定自即日起在南部邦聯(lián)各州的奴隸將永遠(yuǎn)獲得自由。該宣言不是美國(guó)國(guó)會(huì)通過(guò)的法律;并沒有宣布奴隸制是非法的,也沒有把獲得自由的奴隸視為公民,而且不包括當(dāng)時(shí)依舊實(shí)行奴隸制,但不在南部邦聯(lián)里的其他州。
Fort Sumter 薩姆特堡,位于南卡羅來(lái)納州查爾斯頓港,為美國(guó)南北戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)爆發(fā)之地。1861年4月12日,南部邦聯(lián)炮擊薩姆特堡,此舉標(biāo)志著美國(guó)內(nèi)戰(zhàn)的開始。