|
Madison
Speech to Virginia Assembly Regarding Religious Freedom,
June
12, 1788
This
speech came by way of response to numerous objections
voiced by Mr. Henry in the Virginia Convention. Of significance
here are Madison's thoughts on the proposed Bill of
Rights to the United States Constitution, as it pertains
to the security of religious freedom. The theory on
religious sects in this speech is quite similar to that
regarding factions in The Federalist No. 10.
Madison explains that multiplicity of religious sects,
which is fostered by the establishment and free exercise
clauses, acts as the best security for preserving religious
freedom. Furthermore, because the United States as a
whole has a much broader spectrum of religious sects
than any one state, the federal government is best suited
to preserve religious freedom.
RJ&L
Religious Institutions Group
SPEECHES
IN THE VIRGINIA CONVENTION
JUNE
12 RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Mr.
Chairman, pardon me for making a few remarks on what fell
from the honorable gentleman last up [Henry]. I am sorry
to follow the example of gentlemen in deviating from the
rule of the house. — But as they have taken the utmost latitude
in their objections, it is necessary that those who favor
the government should answer them. But I wish as soon as
possible to take up the subject regularly. I will therefore
take the liberty to answer some observations which have
been irregularly made, though they might be more properly
answered when we come to discuss those parts of the constitution
to which they respectively refer.
*
* * *
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 were a majority of one sect, a bill of rights would
be a poor protection for liberty. Happily for the states,
they enjoy the utmost freedom of religion. This freedom
arises from that multiplicity of sects, which pervades America,
and which is the best and only security for religious liberty
in any society. For where there is such a variety of sects,
there cannot be a majority of any one sect to oppress and
persecute the rest. Fortunately for this commonwealth, a
majority of the people are decidedly against any exclusive
establishment — I believe it to be so in the other states.
There is not a shadow of right in the general government
to intermeddle with religion. Its least interference with
it, would be a most flagrant usurpation. I can appeal to
my uniform conduct on this subject, that I have warmly supported
religious freedom. It is better that this security should
be depended upon from the general legislature, than from
one particular state. A particular state might concur in
one religious project. But the United States abound in such
a variety of sects, that it is a strong security against
religious persecution, and it is sufficient to authorise
a conclusion, that no one sect will ever be able to outnumber
or depress the rest.
James
Madison, Speeches in the Virginia Convention (June 12, 1788),
in 5 The Writings of James Madison, 1787-1790, at 174 (Gaillard
Hunt ed., 1904).
|
