To James Madison from George Mason, 6 July 1826
From George Mason
Green Spring
near Williamsburg Va. July 6th. 1826.
Sir
The enclosed paper1 came by accident into my possession some time since. Deeply impressed with the valuable truths which it contained, & the profound views & liberal spirit which pervade every part of the composition, I caused an impression to be made, & have given it thro’ that means some circulation. Circumstances, have since induced me to give it one more extended, by sending it for publication in one of our public prints. It becomes therefore, a natural & interesting inquiry, who was its Author?
Having heard it attributed to yourself, as well as to others, you will I trust Sir, pardon the liberty I take, in requesting such information of the fact, as you may be in possession of.
It is from such papers as this, that posterity will draw their maxims of Religious, as from the early papers of our Revolution, their axioms of political & civil Liberty.
’Tis not therefore, alone a matter of curious speculation, but of actual justice to ascertain from an authentic source, to whom the honour of their composition is due. Accept I pray you Sir, the assurance of my very exalted respect & great veneration. Your most obt: humble Servt:
G. Mason2
RC (DLC). Docketed by JM. Enclosure not found, but see n. 1.
1. The enclosure was a copy of JM’s 1785 Memorial and Remonstrance against Religious Assessments (, 8:298–304). The memorial was republished, along with this letter and JM’s 14 July reply, in the Richmond Enquirer, 3 Nov. 1826, of which JM kept a clipping (DLC, series 7, OV 1). It was also published as a pamphlet, Principles of Religious Equality: Correspondence with G. Mason; With the Memorial and Remonstrance against the Bill Establishing a Provision for Teachers of the Christian Religion, Etc. (Richmond, 1826; 25182).
2. George Mason (1786–1834) was a Virginia planter and the namesake and grandson of George Mason (1725–92), a leader in the revolutionary struggle in Virginia (Pamela C. Copeland and Richard K. MacMaster, The Five George Masons: Patriots and Planters of Virginia and Maryland [Charlottesville, Va., 1975], [post-268], table 1).