The writings of James Madison, comprising his public papers and his private correspondence, including numerous letters and documents now for the first time printed. |
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TO MORDECAI M. NOAH. |
 | The writings of James Madison, |  |
TO MORDECAI M. NOAH.
Sir,—I have recd. your letter of the 6th,[142]
with
the eloquent discourse delivered at the Consecration
of the Jewish Synagogue. Having ever regarded
the freedom of religious opinions & worship as
equally belonging to every sect, & the secure enjoyment
of it as the best human provision for bringing
all either into the same way of thinking, or
into that mutual charity which is the only substitute,
I observe with pleasure the view you give
of the spirit in which your Sect partake of the
blessings offered by our Govt. and Laws.
As your foreign Mission took place whilst I was
in the Administration, it cannot but be agreeable
to me to learn that your accts. have been closed in
a manner so favorable to you. And I know too
well the justice & candor of the present Executive
to doubt, that an official [illegible] will be readily
allowed to explanations necessary to protect your
character against the effect of any impressions
whatever ascertained to be erroneous. It is certain
that your religious profession was well known at the
time you recd. your Commission; and that in itself
could not be a motive for your recall.
I thank you Sir for your friendly wishes and
tender you mine.
Noah's letter said that the Jews of America owed many of the
blessings they enjoyed to Madison and his colleagues. He hoped that
the impression that his recall from the foreign service was due to
irregularity in his accounts might be removed and that it might be
attributed to his religion.—Mad. MSS. Madison had appointed
him consul at Riga, Russia, June 4, 1811, but he declined. He accepted
the appointment of Consul at Tunis made March 20, 1813.
| The writings of James Madison, | |