http://classicliberal.tripod.com/jefferson/dufeif.html
Letter To N. G. Dufeif
Thomas Jefferson (April 19, 1814)
Dear Sir, -- Your favor of the 6th instant is just received, and I shall
with equal willingness and truth, state the degree of agency you had,
respecting the copy of M. de Becourt's book, which came to my hands. That
gentleman informed me, by letter, that he was about to publish a volume in
French, "Sur la Création du Monde, un Systême d'Organisation Primitive,"
which, its title promised to be, either a geological or astronomical work.
I subscribed; and, when published, he sent me a copy; and as you were my
correspondent in the book line in Philadelphia, I took the liberty of
desiring him to call on you for the price, which, he afterwards informed
me, you were so kind as to pay him for me, being, I believe, two dollars.
But the sole copy which came to me was from himself directly, and, as far
as I know, was never seen by you.
I am really mortified to be told that, in the United States of America, a
fact like this can become a subject of inquiry, and of criminal inquiry
too, as an offence against religion; that a question about the sale of a
book can be carried before the civil magistrate. Is this then our freedom
of religion? and are we to have a censor whose imprimatur shall say what
books may be sold, and what we may buy? And who is thus to dogmatize
religious opinions for our citizens? Whose foot is to be the measure to
which ours are all to be cut or stretched? Is a priest to be our
inquisitor, or shall a layman, simple as ourselves, set up his reason as
the rule for what we are to read, and what we must believe? It is an insult
to our citizens to question whether they are rational beings or not, and
blasphemy against religion to suppose it cannot stand the test of truth and
reason. If M. de Becourt's book be false in its facts, disprove them; if
false in its reasoning, refute it. But, for God's sake, let us freely hear
both sides, if we choose. I know little of its contents, having barely
glanced over here and there a passage, and over the table of contents. From
this, the Newtonian philosophy seemed the chief object of attack, the issue
of which might be trusted to the strength of the two combatants; Newton
certainly not needing the auxiliary arm of the government, and still less
the holy author of our religion, as to what in it concerns him. I thought
the work would be very innocent, and one which might be confided to the
reason of any man; not likely to be much read if let alone, but, if
persecuted, it will be generally read. Every man in the United States will
think it a duty to buy a copy, in vindication of his right to buy, and to
read what he pleases. I have been just reading the new constitution of
Spain. One of its fundamental basis is expressed in these words: "The Roman
Catholic religion, the only true one, is, and always shall be, that of the
Spanish nation. The government protects it by wise and just laws, and
prohibits the exercise of any other whatever." Now I wish this presented to
those who question what you may sell, or we may buy, with a request to
strike out the words, "Roman Catholic," and to insert the denomination of
their own religion. This would ascertain the code of dogmas which each
wishes should domineer over the opinions of all others and be taken, like
the Spanish religion, under the "protection of wise and just laws." It
would shew to what they wish to reduce the liberty for which one generation
has sacrificed life and happiness. It would present our boasted freedom of
religion as a thing of theory only, and not of practice, as what would be a
poor exchange for the theoretic thraldom, but practical freedom of Europe.
But it is impossible that the laws of Pennsylvania, which set us the first
example of the wholesome and happy effects of religious freedom, can permit
the inquisitorial functions to be proposed to their courts. Under them you
are surely safe.
At the date of yours of the 6th, you had not received mine of the 3d inst.,
asking a copy of an edition of Newton's Principia, which I had seen
advertised. When the cost of that shall be known, it shall be added to the
balance of $4.93, and incorporated with a larger remittance I have to make
to Philadelphia. Accept the assurance of my great esteem and respect.
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Posting and reading from alt.politics.usa.constitution OR alt.education
You are invited to check out the following:
The Rise of the Theocratic States of America
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/theocracy.htm
American Theocrats - Past and Present
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/theocrats.htm
The Constitutional Principle: Separation of Church and State
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/index.html
[and to join the discussion group for the above site and/or Separation of
Church and State in general, listed below]
HRSepCnS · Hampton Roads SepChurch&State
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HRSepCnS/
[Its not just Hampton Roads folks who are members]
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.. . . You can't understand a phrase such as "Congress shall make no law
respecting an establishment of religion" by syllogistic reasoning. Words
take their meaning from social as well as textual contexts, which is why "a
page of history is worth a volume of logic." New York Trust Co. v. Eisner,
256 U.S. 345, 349, 41 S.Ct. 506, 507, 65 L.Ed. 963 (1921) (Holmes, J.).
Sherman v. Community Consol. Dist. 21, 980 F.2d 437, 445 (7th Cir. 1992)
.. . .
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THE CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLE:
SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/index.html
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