Original Intent: The Courts, the Constitution, and Religion

by David Barton

  The Life of the Late Gen. William Eaton … commander of the Christian and Other Forces … which Led to the Treaty of Peace Between The United States and The Regency of Tripoli37 (emphasis added)

  The numerous documents surrounding the Barbary Powers Conflict confirm that historically it was always viewed as a conflict between Christian America and Muslim nations. Those documents completely disprove the notion that any founding President, especially Washington, ever declared that America was not a Christian nation or people. (Chapter 16 will provide numerous additional current examples of historical revisionism.)

  Consider next the quote attributed to Thomas Paine: “I disbelieve all holy men and holy books.” Is the accuracy of this quote any better than the previous ones imputed to Adams and Washington? In this case, the answer is probably yes – that is, while we were unable to locate this specific statement by Paine, it is certainly of a tone similar to several others he made in his Age of Reason and other writings which attacked religion generally and Christianity specifically. However, the real story is not the accuracy of Paine’s quote, but rather how the other Founders reacted to Paine’s declarations.

  Consider first Benjamin Franklin’s response. Paine sent a copy of his thoughts on religion to Franklin, seeking his response. Notice Franklin’s strong and succinct reply, and keep in mind that those on all sides of the religion question would concede Franklin to be one of the least religious Founders:

  I have read your manuscript with some attention. By the argument it contains against a particular Providence, though you allow a general Providence, you strike at the foundations of all religion. For without the belief of a Providence that takes cognizance of, guards, and guides, and may favor particular persons, there is no motive to worship a Deity, to fear His displeasure, or to pray for His protection. I will not enter into any discussion of your principles, though you seem to desire it. At present I shall only give you my opinion that … the consequence of printing this piece will be a great deal of odium [hate] drawn upon yourself, mischief to you, and no benefit to others. He that spits into the wind, spits in his own face. But were you to succeed, do you imagine any good would be done by it? … [T]hink how great a portion of mankind consists of weak and ignorant men and women and of inexperienced, inconsiderate youth of both sexes who have need of the motives of religion to restrain them from vice, to support their virtue…. I would advise you, therefore, not to attempt unchaining the tiger, but to burn this piece before it is seen by any other person…. If men are so wicked with religion, what would they be if without it. I intend this letter itself as a proof of my friendship.38

  Of Paine’s views, John Adams wrote:

  The Christian religion is, above all the religions that ever prevailed or existed in ancient or modern times, the religion of wisdom, virtue, equity and humanity, let the Blackguard [scoundrel, rogue] Paine say what he will.39

  In fact, when asked about several of Thomas Paine’s disciples coming to America, Adams replied:

  The German letter proposing to introduce into this country a company of schoolmasters, painters, poets, &c., all of them disciples of Mr. Thomas Paine, will require no answer. I had rather countenance [allow] the introduction of Ariel and Caliban [two evil spirits in Shakespearean plays] with a troop of spirits.40

  Samuel Adams wrote Paine a stiff rebuke, telling him:

  [W]hen I heard you had turned your mind to a defence of infidelity, I felt myself much astonished and more grieved that you had attempted a measure so injurious to the feelings and so repugnant to the true interest of so great a part of the citizens of the United States. The people of New England, if you will allow me to use a Scripture phrase, are fast returning to their first love. Will you excite among them the spirit of angry controversy at a time when they are hastening to amity and peace? I am told that some of our newspapers have announced your intention to publish an additional pamphlet upon the principles of your Age of Reason. Do you think that your pen, or the pen of any other man, can unchristianize the mass of our citizens, or have you hopes of converting a few of them to assist you in so bad a cause?41

  Benjamin Rush, signer of the Declaration, wrote to his friend and signer of the Constitution John Dickinson that Paine’s Age of Reason was “absurd and impious”;42 Charles Carroll, a signer of the Declaration, described Paine’s work as “blasphemous writings against the Christian religion”;43 John Witherspoon said that Paine was “ignorant of human nature as well as an enemy to the Christian faith”;44 John Quincy Adams accused Paine of having departed from the fundamental principles that produced strong representative government;45 and Elias Boudinot, President of Congress, even published the Age of Revelation – a full-length rebuttal to Paine’s work. In a letter to his daughter, Susan, Boudinot described his motivations for writing that rebuttal:

  I confess that I was much mortified to find the whole force of this vain man’s genius and art pointed at the youth of America…. This awful consequence created some alarm in my mind lest at any future day, you, my beloved child, might take up this plausible address of infidelity; and for want of an answer at hand to his subtle insinuations might suffer even a doubt of the truth, as it is in Jesus, to penetrate into your mind…. I therefore determined … to put my thoughts on the subject of this pamphlet on paper for your edification and information, when I shall be no more. I chose to confine myself to the leading and essential facts of the Gospel which are contradicted or attempted to be turned into ridicule by this writer. I have endeavored to detect his falsehoods and misrepresentations and to show his extreme ignorance of the Divine Scriptures which he makes the subject of his animadversions [criticisms] – not knowing that “they are the power of God unto salvation, to every one that believeth” [ROMANS 1:16].46

  Patrick Henry, too, wrote a refutation of Paine’s work which he described as “the puny efforts of Paine.”47 However, after reading Bishop Richard Watson’s Apology for the Bible written against Paine, Henry deemed that work sufficient and decided not to publish his reply.48 When William Paterson, signer of the Constitution and a Justice on the U. S. Supreme Court, learned that some Americans seemed to agree with Paine’s work, he thundered:

  Infatuated Americans, why renounce your country, your religion, and your God? Oh shame, where is thy blush? Is this the way to continue independent, and to render the 4th of July immortal in memory and song?49

  Zephaniah Swift, author of America’s first law book, noted:

  [W]e cannot sufficiently reprobate the beliefs of Thomas Paine in his attack on Christianity by publishing his Age of Reason…. He has the impudence and effrontery [shameless boldness] to address to the citizens of the United States of America a paltry performance which is intended to shake their faith in the religion of their fathers…. No language can describe the wickedness of the man who will attempt to subvert a religion which is a source of comfort and consolation to its votaries [devout worshipers] merely for the purpose of eradicating all sentiments of religion.50

  John Jay, an author of the Federalist Papers and the original Chief Justice of the U. S. Supreme Court, was comforted by the fact that Christianity would prevail despite Paine’s attack:

  I have long been of the opinion that the evidence of the truth of Christianity requires only to be carefully examined to produce conviction in candid minds, and I think they who undertake that task will derive advantages…. As to The Age of Reason, it never appeared to me to have been written from a disinterested love of truth or of mankind.51

  Many other similar writings could be cited, but these are sufficient to show that Paine’s views were strongly rejected even by the least religious Founders. In fact, Paine’s views caused such vehement public opposition that he spent his last years in New York as “an outcast” in “social ostracism” and was buried in a farm field because no American cemetery would accept his remains.52

  Yet, even Thomas Paine cannot be called an atheist, for in the same work wherein he so strongly attacked Christianity, Paine als
o declared:

  I believe in one God … and I hope for happiness beyond this life.53

  The Founding Fathers simply were not atheists – not even one of them. As Franklin had previously explained to the French:

  [B]ad examples to youth are more rare in America, which must be comfortable consideration to parents. To this may be truly added, that serious religion, under its various denominations, is not only tolerated, but respected and practised. Atheism is unknown there; infidelity [a disbelief in the Scriptures and in Christianity54] rare and secret; so that persons may live to a great age in that country, without having their piety shocked by meeting with either an atheist or an infidel.55

  While there was some anti-organized-religion sentiment among the Founders (e.g., Thomas Paine,56 Ethan Allen,57 Charles Lee,58 Henry Dearborn59), those with such views numbered very few among the total number of Founding Fathers.

  In fact, even a cursory examination of the Founders’ own declarations in their last wills and testaments60 provides convincing evidence of the strong religious beliefs evident among so many of them. Observe:

  Principally and first of all, I recommend my soul to that Almighty Being Who gave it and my body I commit to the dust, relying upon the merits of Jesus Christ for a pardon of all my sins. SAMUEL ADAMS, SIGNER OF THE DECLARATION

  Firstly, I commit my soul into the hands of God, its great and benevolent author. JOSIAH BARTLETT, SIGNER OF THE DECLARATION

  First and principally, I commit my soul unto Almighty God. DAVID BREARLEY, SIGNER OF THE CONSTITUTION

  Rendering thanks to my Creator for my existence and station among His works, for my birth in a country enlightened by the Gospel and enjoying freedom, and for all His other kindnesses, to Him I resign myself, humbly confiding in His goodness and in His mercy through Jesus Christ for the events of eternity. JOHN DICKINSON, SIGNER OF THE CONSTITUTION

  I resign my soul into the hands of the Almighty who gave it in humble hopes of His mercy through our Savior Jesus Christ. GABRIEL DUVALL, SELECTED AS DELEGATE TO CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION; U. S. SUPREME COURT JUSTICE

  [T]hanks be given unto Almighty God therefore, and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die and after that the judgment [HEBREWS 9:27] … principally, I give and recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God Who gave it and my body to the earth to be buried in a decent and Christian like manner … to receive the same again at the general resurrection by the mighty power of God. JOHN HART, SIGNER OF THE DECLARATION

  This is all the inheritance I can give to my dear family. The religion of Christ can give them one which will make them rich indeed. PATRICK HENRY

  Unto Him who is the author and giver of all good, I render sincere and humble thanks for His manifold and unmerited blessings, and especially for our redemption and salvation by His beloved Son…. Blessed be His holy name. JOHN JAY, ORIGINAL CHIEF JUSTICE U. S. SUPREME COURT

  My soul I resign into the hands of my Almighty Creator, Whose tender mercies are all over His works, Who hateth nothing that He hath made, and to the justice and wisdom of whose dispensations I willingly and cheerfully submit, humbly hoping from His unbounded mercy and benevolence, through the merits of my blessed Savior, a remission of my sins. GEORGE MASON, FATHER OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS

  With an awful reverence to the Great Almighty God, Creator of all mankind, being sick and weak in body but of sound mind and memory, thanks be given to Almighty God for the same. JOHN MORTON, SIGNER OF THE DECLARATION

  I am constrained to express my adoration of the Supreme Being, the Author of my existence, in full belief of His Providential goodness and His forgiving mercy revealed to the world through Jesus Christ, through Whom I hope for never ending happiness in a future state. ROBERT TREAT PAINE, SIGNER OF THE DECLARATION

  To the eternal and only true God be all honor and glory now and forever. Amen! CHARLES COTESWORTH PINCKNEY, SIGNER OF THE CONSTITUTION

  And as my children will have frequent occasion of perusing this instrument and may probably be particularly impressed with the last words of their father, I think it proper here not only to subscribe to the entire belief of the great and leading doctrines of the Christian religion, such as the being of God, the universal defection and depravity of human nature, the Divinity of the person and the completeness of the redemption purchased by the blessed Saviour, the necessity of the operations of the Divine Spirit, of Divine faith accompanied with an habitual virtuous life, and the universality of the Divine Providence, but also, in the bowels of a father’s affection, to exhort and charge them that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, that the way of life held up in the Christian system is calculated for the most complete happiness that can be enjoyed in this mortal state. RICHARD STOCKTON, SIGNER OF THE DECLARATION

  These wills, and others like them, represent the tone of what was common among the Founders. Additionally, the personal writings of many other Founders reflect equally succinct declarations about their faith in Christ. Consider a few examples:

  My hopes of a future life are all founded upon the Gospel of Christ and I cannot cavil or quibble away [evade or object to]…. the whole tenor of His conduct by which He sometimes positively asserted and at others countenances [permits] His disciples in asserting that He was God.61 JOHN QUINCY ADAMS

  Now to the triune God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be ascribed all honor and dominion, forevermore – Amen.62 GUNNING BEDFORD, SIGNER OF THE CONSTITUTION

  [T]he religion I have [is] to love and fear God, believe in Jesus Christ, do all the good to my neighbor and myself that I can, do as little harm as I can help, and trust on God’s mercy for the rest.63 DANIEL BOONE, REVOLUTIONARY OFFICER; LEGISLATOR

  You have been instructed from your childhood in the knowledge of your lost state by nature – the absolute necessity of a change of heart and an entire renovation of soul to the image of Jesus Christ – of salvation thro’ His meritorious righteousness only – and the indispensable necessity of personal holiness without which no man shall see the Lord.64 ELIAS BOUDINOT, PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS (TO HIS DAUGHTER, SUSAN BOUDINOT)

  [D]on’t forget to be a Christian. I have said much to you on this head and I hope an indelible impression is made.65 JACOB BROOM, SIGNER OF THE CONSTITUTION

  On the mercy of my Redeemer I rely for salvation and on His merits; not on the works I have done in obedience to His precepts.66 CHARLES CARROLL, SIGNER OF THE DECLARATION

  For my part, I am free and ready enough to declare that I think the Christian religion is a Divine institution; and I pray to God that I may never forget the precepts of His religion or suffer the appearance of an inconsistency in my principles and practice.67 JAMES IREDELL, U. S. SUPREME COURT JUSTICE

  I … am endeavoring … to attend to my own duty only as a Christian…. let us take care that our Christianity, though put to the test … be not shaken, and that our love for things really good wax not cold.68 WILLIAM SAMUEL JOHNSON, SIGNER OF THE CONSTITUTION

  My object in telling you this is that if anything happens to me you might know, and perhaps it would console you to remember, that on this point my mind is clear; I rest my hopes of salvation on the Lord Jesus Christ.69 JAMES KENT, FATHER OF AMERICAN JURISPRUDENCE

  [M]ay I always hear that you are following the guidance of that blessed Spirit that will lead you into all truth, leaning on that Almighty arm that has been extended to deliver you, trusting only in the only Saviour, and going on in your way to Him rejoicing.70 FRANCIS SCOTT KEY, ATTORNEY; AUTHOR OF THE “STAR SPANGLED BANNER”

  I desire to bless and praise the name of God most high for appointing me my birth in a land of Gospel Light where the glorious tidings of a Saviour and of pardon and salvation through Him have been continually sounding in mine ears.71 ROBERT TREAT PAINE, SIGNER OF THE DECLARATION

  Pardon, we beseech Thee, all our offences of omission and commission; and grant that in all our thoughts, words, and actions, we may conform to Thy known will manifested in our consciences and in the revelations of Jesus Ch
rist our Saviour.72 TIMOTHY PICKERING, REVOLUTIONARY GENERAL; SECRETARY OF STATE

  I am at last reconciled to my God and have assurance of His pardon through faith in Christ, against which the very gates of hell cannot prevail. Fear hath been driven out by perfect love.73 JOHN RANDOLPH OF ROANOKE, U. S. CONGRESSMAN; U. S. DIPLOMAT

  My only hope of salvation is in the infinite transcendent love of God manifested to the world by the death of His Son upon the Cross. Nothing but His blood will wash away my sins. I rely exclusively upon it. Come, Lord Jesus! Come quickly!74 BENJAMIN RUSH, SIGNER OF THE DECLARATION

  I believe that there is one only living and true God, existing in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, the same in substance equal in power and glory. That the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are a revelation from God and a complete rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy Him…. I believe that the souls of believers are at their death made perfectly holy and immediately taken to glory: that at the end of this world there will be a resurrection of the dead and a final judgment of all mankind when the righteous shall be publicly acquitted by Christ the Judge and admitted to everlasting life and glory, and the wicked be sentenced to everlasting punishment.75 ROGER SHERMAN, SIGNER OF THE DECLARATION; SIGNER OF THE CONSTITUTION

  Jesus Christ has in the clearest manner inculcated those duties which are productive of the highest moral felicity and consistent with all the innocent enjoyments, to which we are impelled by the dictates of nature. Religion, when fairly considered in its genuine simplicity and uncorrupted state, is the source of endless rapture and delight.76 ZEPHANIAH SWIFT, AUTHOR OF AMERICA’S FIRST LEGAL TEXT