Posted by
KWillS on Friday, May 18, 2007 1:53:12 PM
'Today in history' on the House's website details the
Gag rule. Democrats gagging the opposition in order to limit debate about the abolition of slavery. Democrats wanted to preserve slavery. It's interesting that the political parties of those instituting the gag rule is buried in a hyperlink rather than being pronounced in the article.
Now, Nancy Pelosi wants to gag the minority (and the majority) by changing House rules to limit debate on bills under consideration. This is how a cabal operates not the US Congress. Bill Clinton gave us a Republican Congress in 1994. Pelosi will deliver the white house and at least the House to Republicans.
The May 18th entry at this site:
http://clerk.house.gov/art_history/index.html
On this date, during the 24th Congress (1835–1837), the House of Representatives instituted the “gag rule.” In December 1835, Representative James Hammond of South Carolina demanded that anti-slavery petitions to the House of Representatives should not be received. Speaker James Polk of Tennessee referred the issue to a special committee to resolve the problem which tied up floor debate for weeks. Committee Chairman Henry L. Pinckney of South Carolina reported back that all petitions, memorials, or resolutions regarding slavery should automatically be tabled and that no further action be taken upon them. Representative John Quincy Adams of Massachusetts raised the first and most impassioned objections to the procedure. Adams shouted during the roll call vote, “I hold the resolution to be a direct violation of the Constitution of the United States.” For the next four Congresses, Adams fervently fought against the gag rule, declaring it a restriction on free speech. Despite his efforts, the House successfully reintroduced the gag rule each Congress until Adams finally mustered enough votes to repeal it on December 3, 1844.