Originally posted by Hangtime
If you knew your history, Adams was locked in a struggle with the buisness (shipping/trade intrests) of the time that were doing virtually all their business with England. And, Adams was not getting much sympathy from the 'working folk' for a confrontation with England over English Navy ships pressing british born seaman out of American ships.
Read the first paragraph closely. It's a plea for moral support regarding infracftions by England on the high seas, pressing american seamen into RN Service. The rest is just pious head bobbing for the 'moral majority' of the time. It's a period piece propaganda broadsheet for the masses.
And this is something to consider as well, Dred. There are public declarations which are frequently political in nature and then there are private feelings. Most of my quotes are from personal correspondence and private writings of the people in question. For example, the quote from Franklin regarding Christ's divinity, in the letter he includes a postscript:
I confide that you will not expose me to criticism and censure by publishing any part of this communication to you. I have ever let others enjoy their religious sentiments, without reflecting on them for those that appeared to me unsupportable and even absurd. All sects here, and we have a great variety, have experienced my good will in assisting them with subscriptions for building their new places of worship; and as I have never opposed any of their doctrines, I hope to go out of the world in peace with them all.
Since we are questioning the Christianity of the Founders, I'll stick by their private correspondence to make that determination.
As for the intent of the 1st Amendment...it is hard to refute the Congressional Record of the day showing their disscussions and the trail of changes.
