Maryland’s Toleration Act (1649); Virginia’s Statute for Religious Freedom (1786)
“Whereas, Almighty God hath created the mind free … That to compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves is sinful and tyrannical; … that our civil rights have no dependence on our religious opinions any more than our opinions in physics or geometry; … And finally that Truth is great, and will prevail if left to herself … Be it enacted … that no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place or ministry whatsoever … but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of Religion … we … do declare that the rights hereby asserted, are of the natural rights of mankind.” – Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom (1786)
Parson’s Cause - Virginia, 1763 (unpublished)
“[Henry] inferred, ‘that a King, by disallowing Acts of this salutary nature, from being the father of his people, degenerated into a Tyrant, and forfeits all right to his subjects’ obedience.’ … When he came to that part of it …, the more sober part of the audience were struck with horror. Mr. Lyons called out aloud, and with an honest warmth, to the Bench, ‘That the gentleman had spoken treason,’ and expressed his astonishment ‘that their worships could hear it without emotion, or any mark of dissatisfaction.’ … Yet Mr. Henry went on in the same treasonable and licentious strain, without interruption from the Bench, nay, even without receiving the least exterior notice of their disapprobation.” – Rev. James Maury, commenting on Parson’s Cause
| Broadside annoucing Maryland's Toleration Act (1649) - courtesy Wikimedia Commons “[W]hereas the inforceing of the conscience in matters of Religion hath frequently fallen out to be of dangerous Consequence in those commonwealths where it hath been practiced, and for the more quiett and peaceable government of this Province, … noe person … professing to believe in Jesus Christ, shall from henceforth bee any waies troubled, molested or discountenanced for or in respect of his or her religion nor in the free exercise thereof … nor an way compelled to the belief or exercise of any other Religion against his or her consent, soe as they be not unfaithfull to the Lord Proprietary.” – Maryland Toleration Act (1649) Patrick Henry addressing Virginia legislature (1765) - courtesy Library of Congress “Do [the Anglican clergy] manifest their zeal in the cause of religion and humanity by practicing the mild and benevolent precepts of the Gospel of Jesus? … Oh, no, gentlemen! Instead of feeding the hungry and clothing the naked, these rapacious harpies would, were their powers equal to their will, snatch from the hearth of their honest parishioner his last hoe-cake, from the widow and her orphan children their last milch cow! The last bed, may, the last blanket from the lying-in woman.” – Patrick Henry, in Parson’s Cause
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