Jefferson wrote: “Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God; that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship; that the legislative powers of government reach actions only and not opinions; I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people Which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ thus building a wall of separation between Church and State.  Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere

satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which end to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.  I reciprocate your kind prayers for the protections and blessing of the common Father and Creator of man, and tender you for yourselves and your religious

association assurances of my high respect and esteem.” [Elliot, Jonathan, ed., The Debates in the Several State Constitutions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution, (Washington D.C., 1836),Vol. 4, p.199, Gov. Samuel Johnston, July 30, 1788].

             Thomas Jefferson actually stated that the Federal government had no power according to the First Amendment to mandate how states express religious

convictions.  Jefferson said that according to the First Amendment the “power to prescribe any religious exercise... must rest with the States.” [Adams, John, The Works of John Adams, Charles F. Adams, ed., Charles C. Little and James Brown, Boston, 1851, Vol. 3 p. 449, “Dissertation on the Canon and Feudal Law.”] How than can the Federal Courts dictate to the states that they can not post the Ten

Commandments?

             Thomas Jefferson supported a law making it illegal to work on Sunday and thus using a religious commandment as the basis of making secular law: “From 1776 to 1779, Jefferson was rewriting the laws of Virginia. He wanted Virginia law to be stripped of its colonial and monarchical qualities. He wanted the law to reflect republican principles. Jefferson was so committed to this effort that he turned down a mission to France in 1776 in order to do it.

             “Jefferson was rewriting the laws of Virginia as a member of the ‘Committee of Revisors.’ This committee was formed by the Virginia House and Senate late in 1776. Various men were approved to serve on the Committee of Revisers such as George Mason. However, for various reasons, the committee membership ended up with Thomas Jefferson, Edmund Pendleton and George Wythe. Jefferson was chairman.

           “The committee met for the first time in Fredericksburg in January 1777. On June 18, 1779, the committee concluded its work. The committee recommended 126 bills for the Virginia House and Senate to pass...there was one bill that directly related to the Ten Commandments.  This was Bill No. 84. Jefferson personally wrote Bills No. 82 and 84. Bill No. 84 was titled: "A Bill for Punishing Disturbers of Religious Worship and Sabbath Breakers.’

“Bill 84 had three provisions, the final one said, ‘If any person on Sunday shall himself be found labouring at his own or any other trade or calling . . . except it be in the ordinary household offices of daily necessity . . . or charity, he shall forfeit the sum of ten shillings for every such offense . . . ‘

 “...Bill No. 84, the Sabbath law was finally passed by the Virginia legislature. James Madison, the sponsor, got it passed on November 27, 1786. Six months later, Madison was in Philadelphia attending the constitutional convention allegedly creating a ‘secular’ government for the United States.”   [David W. New, Esq., Would Thomas Jefferson Display the Ten Commandments?, Faith in Action, Part 2, Internet].

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