Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-05-17
An Act for Establishing Religious
FTeedom
WRITTEN By THOMAS JEFFERSON.
Passed by the General assembly al lfrg

Passed By the General assembly Of lTygiaia,
December l6M, 1884.
l. WHEREAS, Almighty God hath created
he mind free; that all attempts to influence
by temporal punishments or burthens. or by
ivil interpretations, tend only to begret hab-
IS of hypocrisy and meanness, and are de-
,'arture from the ian Of the Holy author Of
lur religien,- -who Icing Lord both of bodv
md mind. yet chose not 70 propagate il by
oercions on either, rs was in his Almighty
power to do; that the impious presumtion Of
Legislators and Rulers, civil as well as cccle-
iastical, who being themselves but fallible
md uninSpired men, have assumed dominion
over the faith of Others. setting mp their owli
opinions and modes of thinking as the only
rue and infalliable, and As such endeavoring
20 impose them on Others, hath established
md maintained false religions over the great
st part of the world and through all time;
hat to compel man TO furnish contributions
of money for the propagation of opinions
which he disbelieves, is sinful and tyranni-
cal; that even the forcing him to support this
Or that teacher of his own religious persua-
sion, Is depriving him of the comfortable lib
srty of giving his contributions to the partic-
ular pastor, whose morals he would make his
pattern and whose powers he feels most per-
suasixs to rigetrotsshess. and Is Withdrawing
from the ministry those temporary rewards,
which, proceeding from an appreciation Of
their personal conduct are an additional in
citement to earnest and unremitting labors
for the instruction Of mankind; that our civi.
lights have no dependence on our religious
opinions any more than our opinions Of phys
cs or geometry; that therefore the proscri-
u,
6dence, by LAYING ul'on him an incapacitv of
being called to offices of trust and emolument
unless he profess, or renounce this or ihatre-
Iigious opinioltis depriying him injpriOusly
Of those privileges and advantages. to which
in common with his fcllow-citize he has
natural right; that it tends only to corrupt the
principles of that religion it is meant to en-
courage, by bribing with monopoly ofworld-
ly honoT and emoluments, those who Will ex-
ternally profess and conform to ii; that though
indeed those are criminal who do not with
stand such temptation, vet neither arc those
innocent who lay the bait in their way; that
to suffer the civil Magistrate to intrrlde his
powersinto the field Of opinion, and to restrain
the profession or propagation Of principles on
supposition of their i'll tendency, is DANCE
rous fallacy, which at once DESTROYS all reli-
gious liberty, because he being of course
Judge of that tendency, will make his opin-
ions the rule of judgment, and approve or
condemn the sentiments of others only as
they shall square with or differ from his own;
that it is time enough for the rghtful pur-
poses Of Civil Government, for its officers to
interfere when principles break out into overt
acts against peace and good order, and finally;
that Truth is great and will prevail if left ia
herself; that she is the proper and sufficient
antagonist 10 Error, and has nothing 10 fear
from the conflict, unless by human interposi-
tion disarmed of her natural weapons. free
argument and debate; errors ceasing to be
dangerous when il is permitted freely to con-
tradict them.,
2 Be it enacted by the General Assembly.
That no man shall be compelled TO frequent
or support any religious worship. place. Of
Ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced.
restrained, molested, or burthened in his body
or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer on ac-
count of his religious opinions or belief; but
that all men shall be free to profess, and by
argument 10 maintain them opinions in mat
ters of religion, and that the same in no w.c
diminish, enlarge or affect their civil calaci-
ties
3. And though we well know that this As
sembly, elected 10y the people Cor the OTajna-
ry purposes of legislation only, have no pow
er to restrain the acts Of succeeding Assem-.
blies, constituted with powers equal to our
own, and that, therefore, to declare this act to
be irevocable, would be of no effect in law;
yet we ale free to declare, and do declare, that
the rights hereby asserted, ale Of the natural
rights Of mankind, and that if any act shall
be her, after passed to repeal the present, or To
narrow its operation, such act will be an in
iringement Of natural right