01-09-13 South Bend's Schuyler Colfax

Home Browse Search

.rtrx�a, arnr 1 f i s `a re y South Bend NEWS RELEASE Date: Wednesday, January 9, 2013 9 a.m. From: Vice-President Oliver J. Davis Contact: 876-6938 Committee of the Whole Chairperson Karen L. White Contact: 229-3100 South Bend's Schuyler Colfax The movie Lincoln, which is now playing and setting attendance records throughout America, is an historical drama film directed and produced by Steven Spielberg. The movie is based in part on Doris Kearns Goodwin's Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln and covers the final four (4) months of President Abraham Lincoln's life. It keenly focuses on the President's efforts in 1865 to have the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution passed by the United States House of Representatives. The movie also depicts the important role which South Bend's Schuyler Colfax played, as he was then serving as Speaker of the House. The movie reminds the audience how critical the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment was, when the cameras focus on Schuyler Colfax during the House debate when he states that he wishes to cast his vote, stating: "This isn't usual. This is history". In the interest of continuing the conversation on this Amendment and in the interest of raising greater awareness of the dedication of Schuyler Colfax's anti-slavery efforts, we are filing today a Resolution. The Resolution proposes that the City Council declare March 23`a of each year Schuyler Colfax Day in South Bend. That is the day on which he was born, and would become an annual event of conversation, discussion, reflection and fun-filled activities in South Bend. We are calling upon residents &businesses of South Bend, along with the Civil Rights Heritage Center at the Natatorium, the Center for History, the South Bend Community School Corporation and the Diocese of Fort-Wayne South Bend Schools and other interested parties to collaborate with the City Council in creative ways to annually celebrate the many talents and contributions made by Schuler Colfax. He was the I" Speaker of the House of Representatives to ever be elected Vice-President. He became the 17`h Vice President of the United States, serving with President Ulysses S. Grant during his first term in the White House. We call upon everyone to explore, together with us, the limitless opportunities to honor Schuyler Colfax in our community for generations to come. 4 Y G