The Letter Of The Danbury Congregation To Thomas Jefferson

This is a continuation of a discussion on the doctrine of separation of church and state. Below you will find the letter the congregation of Danbury Baptists wrote Thomas Jefferson. To start at the beginning please click here

The address of the Danbury Baptists Association in the state of

Connecticut, assembled October 7, 1801. To Thomas Jefferson,

Esq., President of the United States of America. 



                

Sir,

Among the many million in America and Europe who rejoice in your election to office; we embrace the first, opportunity which we have enjoyed in our collective capacity, since your inauguration, to express our great satisfaction, in your appointment to the chief magistry of the United States: and though our mode of expression may be less courtly and pompous than what many others clothe their addresses with, we beg you sir, to believe that none are more sincere.

Our sentiments are uniformly on the side of religious liberty - that religion is at all times and places a matter between God and individuals - that no man ought to suffer in name, person, or effects on account of his religious opinions - that the legimate power of civil government extends no further than to punish the man who works ill to his neighbors; but sir, our constitution of government is not specific. Our ancient charter together with the law made coincident therewith, were adopted as the basis of our government, at the time of our revolution; and such had been our laws and usages, and such still are; that religion is considered as the first object of legislation; and therefore what religious privileges we enjoy (as a minor part of the state) we enjoy as favors granted, and not as inalienable rights; and these favors we receive at the expense of such degrading acknowledgements as are inconsistent with the rights of freemen. It is not to be wondered at therefore; if those who seek after power and gain under the pretense of government and religion should reproach their fellow men - should reproach their order magistrate, as a enemy of religion, law, and good order, because he will not, dare not, assume the prerogatives of Jehovah and make laws to govern the kingdom of Christ.

Sir, we are sensible that the president of the United States is not the national legislator, and also sensible that the national government can not destroy the laws of each state; but our hopes are strong that our beloved president, which have such genial effect already, like the radiant beams of the sun, will shine and prevail through all of these states and all the world, till hierarchy and tyranny be destroyed from the earth. Sir, when we reflect on your past services, and see a glow of philanthropy and good will shinning forth in a course of more than thirty years we have reason to believe that America's God has raised you up to fill the chair of state out of that goodwill which he bears to the millions you preside over. May God strengthen you for your arduous task which providence and the voice of the people have called you to sustain and support you enjoy administration against all the predetermined opposition of those who wish to raise to wealth and importance on the poverty and subjection of the people.

May the Lord preserve you safe from every evil and bring you at last to his heavenly kingdom through Jesus Christ our Glorious mediator.

Signed in behalf of the Association, Nehemiah Dodge, Ephraim Robbins, Stephen S. Nelson

The Nature Of The Danbury Baptist Request

It appears that they were seeking assurance from Thomas Jefferson that the federal government would not infringe upon their religious rights. He gave them the assurance they were seeking; that the government would not infringe upon their religious liberty. That assurance is spelled out in Amendment I.

Amendment I was not intended to be a tool to remove all vestiges of God from our government, from our schools, and our public places. It was designed to prevent the federal government from forming a state religion, or from giving prominence to one religion above all others. Our founding fathers and the citizens of this country were comfortable with the idea that God had a place in our laws, our lives, and in our government. Most of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill Of Rights were deeply religious men.

Are our rights as citizens being denied by the federal government when they blackmail our ministers and tell them if they mention politics in the pulpit they will lose the tax exempt status of the church? Are not Christians citizens as well? Do we not have the right to meet anywhere we choose to meet, to select the people who will represent us? Does the constitution tell us where we can meet or how? When the federal government tells us we can not pray in schools are they not interfering with the practice of our religion?

If we fail to stand up for our religious liberty it will be legislated entirely away, a bit here, and a bit there, until this is a secular nation, and our religion is prohibited.