The Correspondence of Thomas Jefferson
By Subject
CONSTITUTION / UNITED STATES / FREEDOM OF RELIGION
I promised you a letter on Christianity, which I have not forgotten.
On the contrary, it is because I have reflected on it, that I find
much more time necessary for it than I can at present dispose of. I
have a view of the subject which ought to displease neither the
rational Christian nor Deists, and would reconcile many to a character
they have too hastily rejected. I do not know that it would reconcile
the
genus irritabile vatum who are all in arms against me. Their
hostility is on too interesting ground to be softened. The delusion
into which the X. Y. Z. plot showed it possible to push the people;
the successful experiment made under the prevalence of that delusion
on the clause of the Constitution, which, while it secured the freedom
of the press, covered also the freedom of religion, had given to the
clergy a very favorite hope of obtaining an establishment of a
particular form of Christianity through the United States; and as
every sect believes its own form the true one, every one perhaps hoped
for his own, but especially the Episcopalians and Congregationalists.
The returning good sense of our country threatens abortion to their
hopes, and they believe that any portion of power confided to me, will
be exerted in opposition to their schemes. And they believe rightly;
for I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against
every form of tyranny over the mind of man. But this is all they have
to fear from me; and enough too in their opinion.
Benjamin Rush, 23 September 1800
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