To Messrs. Nehemiah Dodge and Others, a Committee of the Danbury Baptist Association, in the State of Connecticut
Gentleman,
The affectionate sentiments of esteem and approbation which you are so good as to express towards me, on behalf of the Danbury Baptist Association, give me the highest satisfaction. My duties dictate a faithful and zealous pursuit of the interests of my constituents, and in proportion as they are persuaded of my fidelity to those duties, the discharge of them becomes more and more pleasing.
Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof thus building a wall of separation between church and State. (See my comment below) Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.
I reciprocate your kind prayers for the protection and blessing of the common Father and Creator of man, and tender you for yourselves and your religious association, assurances of my high respect and esteem.
T.W. Jefferson
January 1, 1802
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My Comment as a Baptist and an American Citizen:
This nation was founded upon liberty. The founders did not divide it into secular and religious. The whole American people expressed their supreme will in the first amendment by creating a law to the legislature that built a wall of protection around every citizen's "right of conscience". Jefferson clearly identifies this act by his comment and adheres to this expression as the supreme will of the People on behalf of their "right of conscience".
By making this law, the government can never respect the consciences (a collection of moral laws or standards) of one group, religious or secular, over another when making or interpreting law. If they do, they will be acting as an establishment of religion which according to the first amendment is unconstitutional. The law is also to be applied to any lobbyist group that acts like a religious establishment and promotes a position concerning a "right of conscience" issue.
The American People have never been afraid of Congress instantly establishing a new religion. Their concern was their liberty. This is why the law deals with Congress not respecting the laws or standards of one group over another when making and interpreting of law. The spirit of the law actually prevents Congress from passing or interpreting any law that would interfere with a citizen's "right of conscience".
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Laws specify conduct. Laws without penalties are nothing more than good advice. Man's obedience to a law is either because of voluntary covenants or an external threat involving penalties. The following is an example of this statement.
If an individual changes his conduct to save the world or save his environment, it could be the result of a covenant that he has made with God or one or more persons. This covenant is protected by the first amendment. This covenant would be a promise to obey a new law specifying conduct, which he has found worthy and has voluntarily added to the other laws within his conscience. God or the persons with whom he made the covenant enforce the penalties for this type of law. The collection of this type of laws within a man's conscience is the substance of what determines his character.
However, if he changes his conduct concerning his world or his environment without a change in his conscience, an external law is required accompanied by some kind of threat of penalty involving the loss of his life, liberty, or property. In this situation it would be in conflict with his conscience and the first amendment, if passed.
Our founders, who asked God to hold them to the rectitude (keep them honest) of their intentions, expected to receive penalties from Him if they did not honor to the best of their abilities their covenants to the American people. For those of us who think like them and believe that we are directly accountable to God for our covenants and our treatment of our fellowman and His creation, our "rights of conscience" will never be surrendered and will always be considered "off limits" to all levels of government.
Stephen L. Corrigan