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Subject Area: Political Theory
Topic: The American Revolution and Constitution

TO MORDECAI M. NOAH. mad. mss. - James Madison, The Writings, vol. 8 (1808-1819) [1908]

Edition used:

The Writings of James Madison, comprising his Public Papers and his Private Correspondence, including his numerous letters and documents now for the first time printed, ed. Gaillard Hunt (New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1900). Vol. 8.

Part of: The Writings of James Madison, 9 vols.

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TO MORDECAI M. NOAH.mad. mss.

Montpellier, May 15; 1818.

Sir,—

I have recd. your letter of the 6th,1 with the eloquent discourse delivered at the Consecration of the Jewish Synagogue. Having ever regarded the freedom of religious opinions & worship as equally belonging to every sect, & the secure enjoyment of it as the best human provision for bringing all either into the same way of thinking, or into that mutual charity which is the only substitute, I observe with pleasure the view you give of the spirit in which your Sect partake of the blessings offered by our Govt. and Laws.

As your foreign Mission took place whilst I was in the Administration, it cannot but be agreeable to me to learn that your accts. have been closed in a manner so favorable to you. And I know too well the justice & candor of the present Executive to doubt, that an official [illegible] will be readily allowed to explanations necessary to protect your character against the effect of any impressions whatever ascertained to be erroneous. It is certain that your religious profession was well known at the time you recd. your Commission; and that in itself could not be a motive for your recall.

I thank you Sir for your friendly wishes and tender you mine.

[1 ]Noah’s letter said that the Jews of America owed many of the blessings they enjoyed to Madison and his colleagues. He hoped that the impression that his recall from the foreign service was due to irregularity in his accounts might be removed and that it might be attributed to his religion.—Mad. MSS. Madison had appointed him consul at Riga, Russia, June 4, 1811, but he declined. He accepted the appointment of Consul at Tunis made March 20, 1813.