The writings of James Madison, comprising his public papers and his private correspondence, including numerous letters and documents now for the first time printed. |
 |
|
|
TO REV.—ADAMS |
|
|
|
 |
 | The writings of James Madison, |  |
private
TO REV.—ADAMS
I recd in due time the printed copy of your Convention
sermon on the relation of Xnity to Civil Govt with a manuscript
request of my opinion on the subject.
There appears to be in the nature of man what insures his
belief in an invisible cause of his present existence, and anticipation
of his future existence. Hence the propensities & susceptibilities
in that case of religion which with a few doubtful
or individual exceptions have prevailed throughout the world.
Waiving the rights of Conscience, not included in the surrender
implied by the social State, and more or less invaded
by all religious Establishments, the simple question to be
decided is whether a support of the best & purest religion, the
Xn religion itself ought not so far at least as pecuniary means
are involved, to be provided for by the Govt. rather than be
left to the voluntary provisions of those who profess it. And
on this question experience will be an admitted Umpire, the
more adequate as the connection between Govts. & Religion
have existed in such various degrees & forms, and now can
be compared with examples where connection has been entirely
dissolved.
In the Papal System, Government and Religion are in a
manner consolidated, & that is found to be the worst of Govts.
In most of the Govts. of the old world, the legal establishment
of a particular religion and without or with very little
toleration of others makes a part of the Political and Civil
organization and there are few of the most enlightened judges
who will maintain that the system has been favorable either
to Religion or to Govt.
Until Holland ventured on the experiment of combining
a liberal toleration with the establishment of a particular
creed, it was taken for granted, that an exclusive & intolerant
establishment was essential, and notwithstanding the light
thrown on the subject by that experiment, the prevailing
opinion in Europe, England not excepted, has been that
Religion could not be preserved without the support of Govt.
nor Govt. be supported witht. an established religion that there
must be at least an alliance of some sort between them.
It remained for North America to bring the great & interesting
subject to a fair, and finally to a decisive test.
In the Colonial State of the Country, there were four examples,
R. I. N. J. Penna. and Delaware, & the greater
part of N. Y. where there were no religious Establishments;
the support of Religion being left to the voluntary associations
& contributions of individuals; and certainly the religious
condition of those Colonies, will well bear a comparison
with that where establishments existed.
As it may be suggested that experiments made in Colonies
more or less under the Controul of a foreign Government, had
not the full scope necessary to display their tendency, it is
fortunate that the appeal can now be made to their effects
under a compleat exemption from any such controul.
It is true that the New England States have not discontinued
establishments of Religion formed under very peculiar
circumstances; but they have by successive relaxations
advanced towards the prevailing example; and without
any evidence of disadvantage either to Religion or good
Government.
And if we turn to the Southern States where there was, previous
to the Declaration of independence, a legal provision for
the support of Religion; and since that event a surrender
of it to a spontaneous support by the people, it may be said
that the difference amounts nearly to a contrast in the
greater purity & industry of the Pastors and in the greater
devotion of their flocks, in the latter period than in the former.
In Virginia the contrast is particularly striking, to those
whose memories can make the comparison. It will not be
denied that causes other than the abolition of the legal
establishment of Religion are to be taken into view in accountg
for the change in the Religious character of the community.
But the existing character, distinguished as it is by its religious
features, and the lapse of time now more than 50 years
since the legal support of Religion was withdrawn sufficiently
prove that it does not need the support of Govt. and it will
scarcely be contended that Government has suffered by the exemption
of Religion from its cognizance, or its pecuniary aid.
The apprehension of some seems to be that Religion left
entirely to itself may run into extravagances injurious both
to Religion and to social order; but besides the question
whether the interference of Govt. in any form wd. not be
more likely to increase than controul the tendency, it is a
safe calculation that in this as in other cases of excessive
excitement, Reason will gradually regain its ascendancey.
Great excitements are less apt to be permanent than to
vibrate to the opposite extreme.
Under another aspect of the subject there may be less
danger that Religion, if left to itself, will suffer from a failure
of the pecuniary support applicable to it than that an omission
of the public authorities to limit the duration of their Charters
to Religious Corporations, and the amount of property acquirable
by them, may lead to an injurious accumulation of
wealth from the lavish donations and bequests prompted by
a pious zeal or by an atoning remorse. Some monitory examples
have already appeared.
Whilst I thus frankly express my view of the subject presented
in your sermon, I must do you the justice to observe
that you very ably maintained yours. I must admit moreover
that it may not be easy, in every possible case, to trace the
line of separation between the rights of religion and the Civil
authority with such distinctness as to avoid collisions &
doubts on unessential points. The tendency to a usurpation
on one side or the other, or to a corrupting coalition or alliance
between them, will be best guarded agst. by an entire
abstinance of the Govt. from interference in any way whatever,
beyond the necessity of preserving public order, & protecting
each sect agst. trespasses on its legal rights by others.
I owe you Sir an apology for the delay in complying with
the request of my opinion on the subject discussed in your
sermon; if not also for the brevity & it may be thought crudeness
of the opinion itself. I must rest the apology on my
great age now in its 83d. year, with more than the ordinary
infirmities, and especially on the effect of a chronic Rheumatism,
as averse to the pen as they are awkward in the use of it.
Be pleased to accept Sir a tender of my cordial & respectful
salutations.
| The writings of James Madison, | |