Founding Fathers

James Madison Comments at Virginia Ratifying Convention, April 12, 1785

May 27, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

James Madison June 12, 1788 In the Virginia convention called to consider ratification of the Constitution, opponents such as Patrick Henry argued that the Constitution would allow creation of a national religion or other forms of state involvement in religion. James Madison returned to Virginia to rebut the arguments himself, claiming that a Bill of Rights was not needed because the Constitution did not give Congress powers to regular religion. The honorable member has introduced the subject of religion. Religion…

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James Madison’s Veto Message on Act Incorporating the Alexandria Protestant Episcopal Church

May 27, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

James Madison February 21, 1811 Congress passed legislation providing special legal protections to the Episcopal Church in Alexandria, Virginia. Madison vetoed the bill as a violation of the First Amendments “establishment” clause. Having examined and considered the Bill, entitled “An Act incorporating the protestant Episcopal Church in the Town of Alexandria in the District of Columbia,” I now return the Bill to the House of Representatives, in which it originated, with the following objections. Because the Bill exceeds the rightful…

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The Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787

May 27, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

James Madison June 6, 1787 During the debate about the balance of powers between states and the federal government, James Madison argued for less state power in part on the grounds that the colonies had persecuted religion. He also argued that they couldn’t count on religious values to temper bad behavior as “Religion itself may become a motive to persecution & oppression.” Mr. PINKNEY according to previous notice & rule obtained, moved “that the first branch of the national Legislature…

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Madison’s Proclamation For Public Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer, November 16, 1814

May 27, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

James Madison November 16, 1814 Madison had resisted issuing Presidential prayer proclamations but in the midst of the war with Britain, he did provide this message calling for voluntary prayer and repentence. The two Houses of the National Legislature having by a joint resolution expressed their desire that in the present time of public calamity and war a day may be recommended to be observed by the people of the United States as a day of public humiliation and fasting…

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Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments by James Madison, 1785

May 27, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

James Madison June 20, 1785 This is one of the most important documents in the history of religious freedom. James Madison wrote it as part of a drive (by Patrick Henry and the Episcopal Church) to tax Virginians to help support religion. Prior to the Revolutionary War, the churc We the subscribers, citizens of the said Commonwealth, having taken into serious consideration, a Bill printed by order of the last Session of General Assembly, entitled “A Bill establishing a provision…

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Letter from James Madison to William Bradford, April 1, 1774

May 27, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

James Madison April 1, 1774 After graduating from Princeton (then called the College of New Jersey) James Madison returned to Virginia to find a wave of persecution. He writes here to his college friend, William Bradford, about efforts to protect religious minorities. Our Assembly is to meet the first of May When It is expected something will be done in behalf of the Dissenters: Petitions I hear are already forming among the Persecuted Baptists and I fancy it is in…

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Letter from James Madison to William Bradford, January 24, 1774

May 27, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

James Madison January 24, 1774 Madison contrasts the persecution he’s witnessing at home in Virginia with the freedom he saw in Philadelphia, home of his Princeton classmate, William Bradford. The persecution of the Baptists in Northern Virginia apparently influenced Madison greatly, want again to breathe your free Air. I expect it will mend my Constitution & confirm my principles. I have indeed as good an Atmosphere at home as the Climate will allow: but have nothing to brag of as…

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Letter from James Madison to William Bradford, November 9, 1772

May 27, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

James Madison November 9, 1772 A young James Madison writes his Princeton classmate congratulating him on his decision to study the humanities but suggests that they might add religious studies too, less they become so full themselves that they “neglect to have our names enrolled in th Orange Virginia, Novr. 9th. 1772 My dear Billey, You moralize so prettily that if I were to judge from some parts of your letter of October 13 I should take you for an…

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Letter from James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, August 20, 1785

May 27, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

James Madison August 20, 1785 This is the cover letter that Madison wrote when he sent Thomas Jefferson, his “Memorial and Remonstrance,” which would become one of the most important documents in the history of American religious freedom. Madison drew up the treatise to turn the public. Orange Aug. 20th. 1785. Dear Sir, –Yours of the 18th of March never reached me till the 4th inst. It came by post from N. York, which it did not leave till the…

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Letter from James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, August 20, 1785

May 27, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

James Madison August 20, 1785 Dear Sir,–Yours of the 18th of March never reached me till the 4th inst. It came by post from N. York, which it did not leave till the 21 of July. My last was dated in April, & went by Mr. Mazzei, who picked it up at N. York and promised to deliver it with his own hand. The machinations of G. B. with regard to Commerce have produced much distress and noise in the…

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