Editing Schuyler Colfax (section)

===Speaker of the House===
Colfax faced a difficult reelection campaign in [[1862 and 1863 United States House of Representatives elections|1862]] due to strong antiwar sentiments in Indiana, but won a narrow victory over Democrat [[David Turpie]]. Among the incumbents defeated that year was [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|Speaker of the House]] [[Galusha Grow]]. When the [[38th United States Congress|38th Congress]] convened in December 1863, Colfax was elected speaker, despite President Lincoln's preference for someone less tied to the Radical Republicans.<ref name=ColfaxUSSen/> Altogether, Colfax was elected speaker for three congresses:
*38th Congress<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=384175| title=US House Speaker (1863)| website=ourcampaigns.com| access-date=April 5, 2019}}</ref>{{indent|2}}{{colorbull|red|size=90}}&nbsp;Schuyler Colfax (R–IN) – 101 (55.50%){{indent|2}}{{colorbull|blue|size=90}}&nbsp;[[Samuel S. Cox]] (D–OH) – 42 (23.08%){{indent|2}}{{colorbull|gray|size=90}}&nbsp;''Others'' – 39 (21.42%)
*[[39th United States Congress|39th Congress]]<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=384174| title=US House Speaker (1865)| website=ourcampaigns.com| access-date=April 5, 2019}}</ref>{{indent|2}}{{colorbull|red|size=90}}&nbsp;Schuyler Colfax (R–IN) – 139 (79.43%){{indent|2}}{{colorbull|blue|size=90}}&nbsp;[[James Brooks (politician)|James Brooks]] (D–NY) – 36 (20.57%)
*[[40th United States Congress|40th Congress]]<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=384173| title=US House Speaker (1867)| website=ourcampaigns.com| access-date=April 5, 2019}}</ref>{{indent|2}}{{colorbull|red|size=90}}&nbsp;Schuyler Colfax (R–IN) – 127 (80.89%){{indent|2}}{{colorbull|blue|size=90}}&nbsp;[[Samuel S. Marshall]] (D–IL) – 30 (19.11%)

During his first term as speaker, Colfax presided over the establishment of the [[Freedmen's Bureau]], and helped secure congressional passage of the [[Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution|Thirteenth Amendment]], which, when [[ratified]] by the states, abolished slavery. Though it is unusual for the speaker to vote, except to break a tie, Colfax directed the clerk to call his name after the [[Voting methods in deliberative assemblies#Recorded vote|roll call vote]] had been taken. He then cast the final vote in favor of the amendment to much applause from its supporters in the House.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rives |first=F. & J. |date=January 31, 1865 |title=Proceedings, January 31, 1865 |url=http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llcg&fileName=068/llcg068.db&recNum=532 |newspaper=Congressional Globe |location=Washington, DC |page=531}}></ref>