Jefferson's Letter to Danbury Baptist Assoc.
Background
The Danbury Baptist Association had written to Jefferson on October 7, 1801, expressing their concern about their religious freedoms. At the time, they were being persecuted because they did not belong to the Congregationalist establishment in Connecticut. Jefferson responded to reassure them that he also believed in religious liberty.
This is exactly what the Danbury Baptists wanted for themselves - an end to repression on account of their religious beliefs. It is also what is accomplished when religious beliefs are not promoted or supported by the government. If anything, his letter could be viewed as a mild expression of his views, because an FBI analysis of portions scratched out from the original draft show that Jefferson had originally written about a "wall of eternal separation".
Source:
Jefferson's Letter to the Danbury Baptists
Learn Religions online / Other religions / Atheism and Agnosticism
By: Austin Cline; Apr. 5, 2023
https://www.learnreligions.com/jefferson-and-the-danbury-baptists-249666
Below are both the Letter to Jefferson from the Danbury Baptist Association and Jefferson's response.
Letter to Thomas Jefferson from
the Danbury Baptist Association
Source:
To Thomas Jefferson from the Danbury Baptist Association, [after 7 October 1801]
National Archives / Founders Online
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-35-02-0331
Note: All “grammatical & spelling errors” within in the letter result from the language in use during 1801.
I have italicized the section of the letter describing the Danbury Baptist Association's belief that "That Religion is at all times and places a Matter between God and Individuals—That no man aught to suffer in Name, person or effects on account of his religious Opinions"; but were concerned because "....what religious privileges we enjoy (as a minor part of the State) we enjoy as favors granted, and not as inalienable rights: and these favors we receive at the expence (sic) of such degrading acknowledgements as are inconsistant (sic) with the rights of freemen."
Jefferson's Letter to the Danbury Baptist Assoc.
The Final Letter, as Sent
To messers. Nehemiah Dodge, Ephraim Robbins, & Stephen S. Nelson, a committee of the Danbury Baptist association in the state of Connecticut.
Gentlemen
The affectionate sentiments of esteem and approbation which you are so good as to express towards me, on behalf of the Danbury Baptist association, give me the highest satisfaction. my duties dictate a faithful and zealous pursuit of the interests of my constituents, & in proportion as they are persuaded of my fidelity to those duties, the discharge of them becomes more and more pleasing.
Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & 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 & 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 tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties. (italicized for emphasis by blogger)
I reciprocate your kind prayers for the protection & blessing of the common father and creator of man, and tender you for yourselves & your religious association, assurances of my high respect & esteem.
Sources:
The Library of Congress online
https://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/9806/danpre.html
Encyclopedia Virginia
Primary Documents