Charles G. Atherton
Encyclopedia
Charles Gordon Atherton was a Democratic Representative
and Senator
from New Hampshire
.
and Mary Ann Toppan-Atherton, Charles G. Atherton was born in Amherst, New Hampshire
on 4 July 1804. He was tutored in the classics
by the inventor Samuel Abbot
, and graduated from Harvard University
in 1822 where he studied law
. After graduation, Atherton was admitted to the bar
in 1825 and commenced practice in Dunstable, New Hampshire
(now Nashua
). He married Ann Clark in 1828.
Atherton was elected as a member of the State house of representatives in 1830 and 1833–1835 and served as Speaker from 1833-1835. He was Elected as a Democrat
to the Twenty-fifth United States Congress and the two succeeding Congresses (4 March 1837-3 March 1843) and did not seek reelection in 1842, having become a candidate for Senator.
After winning his election bid, Atherton was elected to the United States Senate as a Democrat in 1843, and served from 4 March 1843, to 3 March 1849. While in the Senate, Atherton served as Chairman of the Committee on Printing (Twenty-ninth Congress), the Committee on Roads and Canals (Twenty-ninth Congress), and the Committee on Finance (Thirtieth Congress).
After leaving the Senate, Atherton resumed the practice of law in Nashua but was again elected to the United States Senate in 1852 for the term beginning 4 March 1853. He took the oath of office on 4 March 1853, and served until he suffered a stroke
while attending court and died in Manchester, New Hampshire
, 15 November 1853. He is interred in Nashua Cemetery, Nashua, New Hampshire.
. In his first term in Congress in 1838 he presented five resolutions which were adopted, and which created a new law that barred Congress from discussing petitions which mentioned bringing slavery
to an end. He presented his five resolutions on December 11, 1838. Congress approved them on December 12, 1838. Several similar laws
were approved by Congress from 1835 to 1840, but the "Atherton Gag" was the only one of them to be named after its creator.
Of the five resolutions, the last one is most indicative of his desires since it contains the vital stipulations. Mr. Atherton wrote:
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
and Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
.
Biography
The son of Charles Humphrey AthertonCharles Humphrey Atherton
Charles Humphrey Atherton was an American Federalist Representative from New Hampshire.Born in Amherst, New Hampshire on 14 August 1773, Atherton graduated from Harvard University in 1794...
and Mary Ann Toppan-Atherton, Charles G. Atherton was born in Amherst, New Hampshire
Amherst, New Hampshire
Amherst is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 11,201 at the 2010 census. Amherst is home to Ponemah Bog Wildlife Sanctuary, Hodgman State Forest, the Joe English Reservation and Baboosic Lake....
on 4 July 1804. He was tutored in the classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
by the inventor Samuel Abbot
Samuel Abbot
Samuel Abbot was a lawyer and the inventor of a process which made starch from potatoes.-Origins:...
, and graduated from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1822 where he studied law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
. After graduation, Atherton was admitted to the bar
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
in 1825 and commenced practice in Dunstable, New Hampshire
Dunstable, New Hampshire
Dunstable, New Hampshire was a town located in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, that is now the city of Nashua.The town was originally part of Dunstable, Massachusetts, which was incorporated in 1673...
(now Nashua
Nashua, New Hampshire
-Climate:-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 86,494 people, 35,044 households, and 21,876 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,719.9 people per square mile . There were 37,168 housing units at an average density of 1,202.8 per square mile...
). He married Ann Clark in 1828.
Atherton was elected as a member of the State house of representatives in 1830 and 1833–1835 and served as Speaker from 1833-1835. He was Elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the Twenty-fifth United States Congress and the two succeeding Congresses (4 March 1837-3 March 1843) and did not seek reelection in 1842, having become a candidate for Senator.
After winning his election bid, Atherton was elected to the United States Senate as a Democrat in 1843, and served from 4 March 1843, to 3 March 1849. While in the Senate, Atherton served as Chairman of the Committee on Printing (Twenty-ninth Congress), the Committee on Roads and Canals (Twenty-ninth Congress), and the Committee on Finance (Thirtieth Congress).
After leaving the Senate, Atherton resumed the practice of law in Nashua but was again elected to the United States Senate in 1852 for the term beginning 4 March 1853. He took the oath of office on 4 March 1853, and served until he suffered a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
while attending court and died in Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester is the largest city in the U.S. state of New Hampshire, the tenth largest city in New England, and the largest city in northern New England, an area comprising the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. It is in Hillsborough County along the banks of the Merrimack River, which...
, 15 November 1853. He is interred in Nashua Cemetery, Nashua, New Hampshire.
Atherton Gag
He was a States-rights Democrat from a northern State of New EnglandNew England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
. In his first term in Congress in 1838 he presented five resolutions which were adopted, and which created a new law that barred Congress from discussing petitions which mentioned bringing slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
to an end. He presented his five resolutions on December 11, 1838. Congress approved them on December 12, 1838. Several similar laws
Gag rule
A gag rule is a rule that limits or forbids the raising, consideration or discussion of a particular topic by members of a legislative or decision-making body.-Origin and pros and cons:...
were approved by Congress from 1835 to 1840, but the "Atherton Gag" was the only one of them to be named after its creator.
Of the five resolutions, the last one is most indicative of his desires since it contains the vital stipulations. Mr. Atherton wrote:
5. Resolved, therefore, That all attempts, on the part of Congress, to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia or the Territories, or to prohibit the removal of slaves from State to State, or to discriminate between the institutions of one portion of the country and another, with the views aforesaid, are in violation of the constitution, destructive of the fundamental principles on which the Union of these States rests, and beyond the jurisdiction of Congress; and that every petition, memorial, resolution, proposition, or paper, touching or relating in any way or to any extent whatever to slavery, as aforesaid, or the abolition thereof, shall, on the presentation thereof, without any further action thereon, be laid on the table without being debated, printed, or referred.