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Virginia Ratifying Convention, James Madison

Virginia Ratifying Convention, James Madison

12 June 1788  This statement on the “multiplicity of sects” summarizes the Madisonian view of religious liberty The honorable member has introduced the subject of religion. Religion is not guarded–there is no bill of rights declaring that religion should be secure. Is a bill of rights a security for religion? Would the bill of rights, in this state, exempt the people from paying for the support of one particular sect, if such sect were exclusively established by law? If there…

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Imprisoned Preachers and Religious Liberty in Virginia

Imprisoned Preachers and Religious Liberty in Virginia

Between 1760 and 1778, there were more than 150 major attacks against Baptists in the colony, most of them carried out by leaders of local Anglican churches. By one estimate, half of all the Baptist preachers in Virginia had been arrested by the time of the American Revolution. In “Imprisoned Preachers and Religious Liberty in Virginia”, we can see some on the many ways Baptists were persecuted for practicing and preaching their faith. Source(s): John A. Ragosta, Wellspring of Liberty:…

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Letter from William Bradford to James Madison (about religious freedom in Pennsylvania)

Letter from William Bradford to James Madison (about religious freedom in Pennsylvania)

William Bradford March 4, 1774 Bradford’s college classmate, James Madison, has informed Bradford that persecution is rampant in Virginia.  Bradford respond that liberty seems to be thriving in Pennsylvania. I am sorry to hear that Persecution has got so much footing among you. The discription you give of your Country makes me more in love with mine. Indeed I have ever looked on America as the land of freedom when compared with the rest of the world, but compared with…

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The First Charter of Virginia, 1606

The First Charter of Virginia, 1606

Virginia May 10, 1606 The colony is established with a firm invocation of Almighty God and a commitment to propagating the Christian religion to the “Infidels and Savages.” JAMES, by the Grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. WHEREAS our loving and well-disposed Subjects, Sir Thorn as Gales, and Sir George Somers, Knights, Richard Hackluit, Clerk, Prebendary of Westminster, and Edward-Maria Wingfield, Thomas Hanharm and Ralegh Gilbert, Esqrs. William Parker, and George…

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Patrick Henry at the Virginia Ratifying Convention, June 12, 1788

Patrick Henry at the Virginia Ratifying Convention, June 12, 1788

Patrick Henry June 12, 1788 During the debates over ratification of the Constitution, supporters argued that religion was protected because the document didn’t give Congress explicit powers to regular religion. Patrick Henry, a popular figure in Virginia, opposed the Constitution and stated that such an important right should be explicitly protected. Wherefore is religious liberty not secured? One honorable gentlemen, who favors adoption, said that he had had his fears on the subject. If I can well recollect, he informed…

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Letter from James Madison to James Monroe, April 12, 1785

Letter from James Madison to James Monroe, April 12, 1785

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James Monroe April 12, 1785 In the third paragraph, Madison updates his friend James Monroe about the “general assessment,” Patrick Henry’s proposal to tax Virginians to help support religion. He notes with contempt that the Presbyterians had opposed state support of religion when Orange April 12 1785. Dear Sir,— I wrote you not long since by a young gentleman who proposed to go as far as N. Y. acknowledging the rect. of your favor of Feby 1st. I have since…

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

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

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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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Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments by James Madison, 1785

Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments by James Madison, 1785

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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

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

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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

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

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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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