Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-02-04
Er,ract Of letter from John 1sdam,, dated
OgtHcv .utIrxf al tStS

Er.rcct Of a letter from John ddims, dated
QUINCY, july 81 1918.
You have extended your ideas, of the
rights of private Judgment, and the liberty of
conscience, both IN religion and philos..-s,y
further than do. Mine are limited only by
morals aud propriety.
L have had occasion 20 be acquainted with
several gentlemen of your nation, aud TO
transact business with some of them, whom
found 10 be men Of liberal minds as much
hobor, PROFIT, generosity, and good hgee,ling,
asans have known ia any sect Of religion or
philosophy.
wish yonr nation may he admitted TO all
the privileges OF citizens, III ever! country of
the weird.
This country has done much. / wish il may
do more, aud annui every narrow idea IN
religion, goYernmeht and commerce..
Let the wits Joke; the philosophers xDeerl
'. hat thenl 1t has pleased The Providence ut
the" FIRST CAUSE" the Universal Canse, that
btatam should give religion, not only 10
Hebrews, but to Christians aud Mahouictans,
the greatest pant OF the modern civilized
world
Eatract efa letter from James Madison, det,d,
Nonipeiiifr, May 10, 1875.
Having ever regarded the freedom of
religious opinions, and worshippers, equally
selonsirg TO every sect, aud the secure ENJOY.
inent OF n, as the best Human provision, Tor
bringing all into the same way Of tiiuk,uu or
INTO that mutual charity, which Is the only
proper substitute: observe with pleasure,
the view yon give OF the spirit in which your
sect partake of lie common bic sings, afforded
Ny our government aud lawS.'
We expressed some doubt relative to the
trut5 of The report that an American officer
had embraced the Turkish faith at CONSTANT
hopie. 1t appears thar the report il true, and
the name or the officer il Engiist This gen
ueinan was born IN the eastern staIes, and
educated at one o. The first seminaiies: eAhi-
biting talents aud industry, H. was induced by
his parents TO stuIy law. Not satisfied with
the iabour aud tedious detail; of the profession,
he turned his attention To divinity, and became
somewhat celebrated IA steadfast 7iinitariun.
After preaching many sermons in support Of
these doctrines, he changed his belief directly
tteIeverse,& wrOte a book containing severe
attacks on ts christian religion. which created
some sensations, and produced replies. HIS
object appears To have been To establish him.
self as The leader of new sect, protesting d
mixed religion. still uniixed, and wavetimg
III his deter mutations and pursuits he dropped
religion and took up politics; went 10 the
western states became strong democrat,
aud finished his career us an active federalist.
lie then tuned his attention To arms, and
Obiaisrd commission in the marine corps,
aud went up the Mediterranean with the squa.
dron. Tie hadinvented machine for destroy
ing armies, such as The ancient chariotS, with
wheels OF >cythes, or some other inachine OF IA
destructive nature and he visited Constauil-
nopie, as We are informed, for the purpose Of
Offering this invention 10 the sultan. L; was,
however, udicuied and rejected, the Turks
betty, probably, the last people on earth WIN
patIOnixe useful discoveries. He then turneli
1nhk, not as lis said because IL afforded
prospect OF acquiring tame In their armies,
but il opened new held for eccentrici,y on
the sacred subject OF religion. But this, uri.
quesiiouably, viil be his last change. La our
country. where conscience is happily free. lie
pursued devious path, WITHOUT producing
any further effect than regret for his instabili
~ on sueh points. The turban, once assumed,
Cannot be displaced lie will be watched for
tearof attempts TO escape, and punished with
death If detected and the contrast of habits,
manners, social relations, government, safety
aud humanity is SO great, that the c, angc of
religion must be severely felt and constantly
depiored Nat Adu.