[FBD]

RE: Madison quote (that Jim posted)
>"This is your idea of a credible source?"<

- I concede that you and lugsoul do have a point.
I realize that many atheist and left-wing sites maintain this quote is false. I believe that in Federalist Papers #37, (or 38?); Madison does write pretty strongly opposing the establishment of any particular sect of religion.

So I've decided to email the experts to verify if it's authentic or not. I'll get back to you if I get a reply.

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http://www.virginia.edu/pjm/home.html

Subject: "Checking the accuracy of a Madison "quote" posted on many websites."

To:
jmadison@virginia.edu


Is this an accurate and verifiable quote, by James Madison? It is displayed on numerous websites:

"We've staked the whole future of American civilization not on the power of government, far from it. We have staked the future of all our political institutions upon the capacity of each and all of us . . . to Govern ourselves according to the commandments of God. The future and success of America is not in this Constitution, but in the laws of God upon which this Constitution is founded."-- James Madison

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Regards

[lugsoul]

You can always contact David Barton and ask him where he got it. Problem is, he can't tell you anything other than a secondary source. There is no original source for the quote.

[Right Wing Professor]

To: jmadison@virginia.edu

LOL!

If you get a reply from the right guy, I may have to rethink my atheism!

[jla]

Larry...Maybe you can help here. Could you have a look at post #367 please?

[jla]

Rather than James Madison or Virginia Universities you might have better luck in verifying the quote at the Nat'l Archives.

The schools might tend to be a tad liberal thus wishing to suppress any pro-Christianity thoughts from Mr. M.

[FBD]

I received the following email today from the University of Virginia, who have an ongoing research project on the Papers of James Madison.

"...the project has collected more than 25,000 copies of documents related to Madison's life--including letters, essays, notes, diaries, account books, ledgers, wills, legal papers, and inventories."
http://www.virginia.edu/pjm/home.html

To:
jmadison@virginia.edu

Is this an accurate and verifiable quote, by James Madison?
It is displayed on numerous websites:
"We've staked the whole future of American civilization not on the power of government, far from it. We have staked the future ...upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God. The future and success of America is not in this Constitution, but in the laws of God upon which this Constitution is founded."

Their response:

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Re: "Checking the accuracy of a Madison quote displayed on many websites"
To: "FBD"
Date: Mon, 11 Apr 2005


Dear Mr. (FBD)

To our knowledge Madison never wrote these words. We've
never found anything remotely like this in our files and
the very idea is inconsistent with Madison's views on
religion and government, views which he expressed in
public and private throughout his life.

Best,

David #######

jmadison@virginia.edu