Petition Praying that the Gag Rule be Rescinded

Women from Brookline, Massachusetts, sent this petition calling upon the House of Representatives to immediately rescind the gag rule that had been passed, calling the resolution a violation of the Constitution. The “gag rule” automatically tabled (dismissed) all petitions regarding slavery.

Transcript

To the Honorable the House of Representatives of the United States.

The undersigned Women of Brookline in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts have learned with astonishment and alarm, that your honorable body did, on the 21st of December last, adopt a resolution in the words following, to wit:

'Resolved, That all memorials, petitions, and papers, touching the abolition of slavery, or the buying, selling or transfer of slaves in any State, territory, or district of the United States, shall be laid on the table, without [crossed out: reading, or reference, or printing, and that no further action whatever shall be had thereon.'] being debated printed read or referred, & that no further action whatever shall be had thereon

Your memorialists 'consider this resolution a violation of the Constitution of the United States—of the right of the people of the United States to petition—and of the right of their Representatives to freedom of speech as members of your honorable body:' They further regard it as an assumption of authority, at once dangerous and destructive to the fundamental principles of republican government, to the rights of minorities, to the sovereignty of the People, and TO THE UNION OF THESE UNITED STATES: They therefore present this their solemn and earnest remonstrance against said resolution, and respectfully ask your honorable body to IMMEDIATELY RESCIND IT.

[signatures]