浅析1836-1844年美国国会限制废奴主义言论的“钳口律”

On Gag Rule Passed by the U.S.Congress that Prohibited Speech of Abolitionists from 1836 to 1844

19世纪30年代,美国反奴隶制协会向联邦国会提交了大量要求废除哥伦比亚特区奴隶制的请愿书。废奴主义者所开展的包括"向国会请愿"在内的一系列活动促进了言论自由在美国的进一步发展。为了应对日益增多的请愿书,联邦国会于1836年通过了禁止议员讨论这类请愿书的"钳口律"①。"钳口律"不仅侵犯了美国宪法第一条第六款所规定的国会议员的言论自由权,更重要的是侵犯了宪法第一修正案所保护的废奴主义者的言论自由权和请愿权。国会议员在有关"钳口律"的辩论中进一步认识到言论自由权和请愿权的重要性。

The Anti-Slavery Society of America sent many petitions to the Congress for the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia in the 1830s.The abolitionists' activities including 'petition to the Congress' promoted the development of free speech in the U.S.As a response to more and more abolitionists' petitions,the U.S.Congress passed a gag rule to prohibit senators and representatives from discussing these petitions in 1836.The gag rule not only violated congressmen's free speech rights as stipulated in U.S.Constitution,but also violated abolitionists' free speech and petition rights as stipulated in the First Amendment of the U.S.Constitution.While discussing the gag rule,the Congressmen further realized the importance of free speech and petition rights.The rule was finally abolished in 1844.