The Conspirator (2010)

Kevin Kline: Edwin Stanton

Photos 

Quotes 

• Edwin Stanton : Young man... always indebted to you for your courage in the field, but you must learn to tread lightly.

  Frederick Aiken : Tread lightly? I will not tread lightly. You have predetermined her fate.

  Edwin Stanton : Mary Surratt's fate rests entirely with the Commission. My concern is preserving our Union.

  Frederick Aiken : Why did I fight for the Union if my rights aren't assured? You tell me.

  Edwin Stanton : Fine words for rallying the troops, not for running a nation. They assassinated our president, and someone must be held accountable. The people want that.

  Frederick Aiken : It's John Surratt you want. You don't even want Mary.

  Edwin Stanton : I'll settle for either one.

• Edwin Stanton : No. Damn it! No. No, she must be punished to the full extent. I want these people buried and forgotten.

  Joseph Holt : The majority prefer a more merciful sentence, life in prison on account of her age, gender.

  Edwin Stanton : I give Mr. Aiken credit. He knew just how to use the daughter.

  Joseph Holt : It seems so.

  Edwin Stanton : You made my sentiments known to the Commission?

  Joseph Holt : Their minds are made.

  Edwin Stanton : Then let us change them.

• Edwin Stanton : Before you go Captain, tell me... when you first learned that our secretary of State has been butchered to within an inch of his life, and that they put a bullet in the back of our president's head, when this city was in chaos, do you not wish to see order restored and justice served, or were you just concerned with the rights of the assassins?

  Frederick Aiken : It's not justice you're after. It's revenge.

  Edwin Stanton : I would never go to such lengths out of vengeance, but to ensure the survival of this nation, I would do anything. Mary Surratt was a party to the most grievous crime in our history. Necessity demands that she be given a swift, sure and harsh sentence. I, too, hold sacred our rights, counselor, but they count not at all, if our nation ceases to exist.

  Frederick Aiken : Please see to it that Mary Surratt is delivered to Judge Wylie's courtroom no later than noon... sir.

• Reverdy Johnson : Could somebody bring me the transcript of today's trial?

  Edwin Stanton : Shall I read it aloud to you?

  [brings transcript over] 

  Reverdy Johnson : Oh, Ed.

  Edwin Stanton : Your young associate is putting up a spirited defense. Reminds me of a certain lawyer I had to face 25 years ago.

  Reverdy Johnson : Ah, he learned to fight in your army. Can I get you a drink?

  Edwin Stanton : No, no. No. I won't be staying long. Reverdy... You've done so much for this nation as any man I know.

  Reverdy Johnson : Oh. Feeling's mutual, Ed.

  Edwin Stanton : Don't you think it's time for us two old war horses to call a truce?

  Reverdy Johnson : Not if you insist on staging this travesty.

  Edwin Stanton : This trial will do more to keep the peace than any paper treaty could.

  Reverdy Johnson : Heh. How'd you convince yourself of that?

  Edwin Stanton : Because justice, swift and firm will help deter the South from ever conspiring again, as well as discouraging the North from seeking revenge.

  Reverdy Johnson : What about the rule of law?

  Edwin Stanton : My first responsibility is to ensure that this war stays won.

  Reverdy Johnson : Oh, and this is how you do it, by keeping fear alive as long as you see fit?

  [shows headlines and stories in a newspaper] 

  Reverdy Johnson : Look. "Stanton warns of future rebel plots", water supplies poisoned, firebombing cities, yellow fever spreading all over the place. This is a frightening country, Ed. And you don't need to scare us anymore.

  Edwin Stanton : And who is to say that none of these things could happen? The unspeakable already has- Our president assassinated, 600,000 dead. The world has changed, Reverdy.

  Reverdy Johnson : Abandoning the Constitution is not the answer.

  Edwin Stanton : You may prefer dining alone. I just hope your young associate does as well. If he pushes too hard, he will make enemies who will not soon forget. On this, you know I'm right.

• Reverdy Johnson : Why, Ed, what a delightful surprise.

  Edwin Stanton : Life's full of them, Reverdy.

  Reverdy Johnson : This is our War Secretary, Mr. Edwin Stanton.

  Frederick Aiken : Yeah it's a-it's a very great pleasure, sir.

  Reverdy Johnson : Mr. Aiken had two horses shot from under him and never quit the field.

  Edwin Stanton : [he and Frederick shake hands]  Could use a loyal man like you over at the War Department, Captain.

  Frederick Aiken : Sir.

  Reverdy Johnson : Captain's back to bein' a lawyer. Time to heal the nation, Ed, not wage more war.

  Edwin Stanton : Pleasure as always,senator. Captain.

  Frederick Aiken : Sir.

  Edwin Stanton : I'm sorry you won't be able to meet the president this evening.

  Frederick Aiken : Will he not be attending?

  Edwin Stanton : It seems Mrs. Lincoln prefers an evening in theater to a room full of soldiers.

• Edwin Stanton : Damn the rebels. Damn them to hell!