Petition Praying that the Gag Rule be Rescinded
2/14/1838
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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]
This primary source comes from the Records of the U.S. House of Representatives.
National Archives Identifier: 306638
Full Citation: Petition from women of Brookline, Massachusetts, praying that the gag rule be rescinded; 2/14/1838; Petitions and Memorials, Resolutions of State Legislatures, and Related Documents Which Were Tabled or "Handed In" during the 25th Congress; (25AH17-1); Tabled Petitions and Memorials, 1797 - 1871; Records of the U.S. House of Representatives, Record Group 233; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/brookline-gag-rule, June 24, 2025]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.
