Robert Winthrop
"All societies of men must be governed in some way or other. The less they may have of stringent State Government, the more they must have of individual self-government. The less they rely on public law or physical force, the more they must rely on private moral restraint. Men, in a word, must necessarily be controlled, either by a power within them, or by a power without them; either by the Word of God, or by the strong arm of man; either by the Bible, or by the bayonet. It may do for other countries and other governments to talk about the State supporting religion. Here, under our own free institutions, it is Religion which must support the State." (Speaker of the House 1847-1849)
posted by John | 9/02/2004 02:13:00 PM
4 Comments:
FOUNDING (1847???} FATHER
Sorry, I should have been more clear. I posted the quote from Winthrop because I think it is a very graphic representation of a common theme among the founding fathers.
I'll post some quotes from the early founders under the main page in response to your objection.
Thanks for keeping me honest...
Samuel Adams... "I have long been convinced that our Enemies have made it an Object, to eradicate from the Minds of the People in general a Sense of true Religion and Virtue, in hopes thereby the more easily to carry their point of enslaving them." Rushdoony, "The Roots of Reconstruction." p552.
PS... I published a string of quotes when I first said I would and then took them down... I had difficulty formating them within a single post so they would display carriage returns. Without them, it all runs together. Does anyone have a suggestion on how to make that better...
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