7228. RELIGION, Freedom of.—[further continued] .
I sincerely rejoice at
the acceptance of our new Constitution by
nine States. It is a good canvas, on which
some strokes only want retouching. What
these are, I think are sufficiently manifested
by the general voice from north to south,
which calls for a bill of rights. It seems
pretty generally understood that this should
go to * * * religion. * * * The
declaration, that religious faith shall be unpunished,
does not give impunity to criminal
acts, dictated by religious error.—
To James Madison. Washington ed. ii, 445.
Ford ed., v, 45.
(P.
July. 1788)
