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Editorial
October 24, 1800
Virginia Argus
Richmond, Virginia
What is this article about?
Editorial compares John Adams and Thomas Jefferson on religious policies, criticizing Adams for permitting forced church taxes in Massachusetts and Connecticut, while praising Jefferson for abolishing such oppression in Virginia through a law granting religious liberty to all sects.
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MR. ADAMS's and MR. JEFFERSON's Religious services compared.
The religion of these two public men is much talked of. The states of Massachusetts and Connecticut afford at this time, frequent examples of persons being forced to pay taxes to support Mr. Adams's church, though the payers be Baptists, Quakers, & others of different religious principles, practice and discipline from Mr. Adams's church. The same was the case about fifteen years ago in Virginia, where Mr. Jefferson's church then forced all others to pay to their support, Mr. Jefferson himself strongly against this practice, declaring it cruel and impolitic towards our fellow citizens, & impious towards our Almighty creator.--Mr Adams ought to have sought and acted like Mr. Jefferson, but he did not. The consequence is, that great religious oppression yet exists in Massachusetts, by the remissness of Mr. Adams, who had a principal hand in forming their State constitution; and religious oppression is abolished in Virginia, by the piety and exertions of Mr. Jefferson, who introduced the law, which gives to all sects of all churches and denominations, perfect religious liberty and the rights of conscience.
The religion of these two public men is much talked of. The states of Massachusetts and Connecticut afford at this time, frequent examples of persons being forced to pay taxes to support Mr. Adams's church, though the payers be Baptists, Quakers, & others of different religious principles, practice and discipline from Mr. Adams's church. The same was the case about fifteen years ago in Virginia, where Mr. Jefferson's church then forced all others to pay to their support, Mr. Jefferson himself strongly against this practice, declaring it cruel and impolitic towards our fellow citizens, & impious towards our Almighty creator.--Mr Adams ought to have sought and acted like Mr. Jefferson, but he did not. The consequence is, that great religious oppression yet exists in Massachusetts, by the remissness of Mr. Adams, who had a principal hand in forming their State constitution; and religious oppression is abolished in Virginia, by the piety and exertions of Mr. Jefferson, who introduced the law, which gives to all sects of all churches and denominations, perfect religious liberty and the rights of conscience.
What sub-type of article is it?
Moral Or Religious
Constitutional
Legal Reform
What keywords are associated?
Religious Liberty
Church Taxation
Adams Jefferson
Massachusetts Oppression
Virginia Reform
What entities or persons were involved?
Mr. Adams
Mr. Jefferson
Massachusetts
Connecticut
Virginia
Baptists
Quakers
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Comparison Of Adams And Jefferson On Religious Liberty And Church Taxation
Stance / Tone
Critical Of Adams, Praising Jefferson
Key Figures
Mr. Adams
Mr. Jefferson
Massachusetts
Connecticut
Virginia
Baptists
Quakers
Key Arguments
Forced Taxes Support Adams's Church In Ma And Ct Despite Differing Beliefs
Jefferson Opposed Similar Forced Support In Va 15 Years Ago, Calling It Cruel, Impolitic, And Impious
Adams Failed To Act Like Jefferson, Contributing To Ongoing Oppression In Ma Via State Constitution
Jefferson's Law Abolished Religious Oppression In Va, Granting Liberty To All Sects