Early U.S. History
Old Paths Bible Ministries © 2007 Richard St.James
The Foundation Was Established ... In Government
The Bill of Rights
Isaac Backus
The Man Who Changed the Movement of the Sun
In
the early 1600s the Puritans, seeking freedom from civil and religious
persecution, braved a perilous ocean voyage and the hardship of the
wilderness to establish a place where they could freely worship God
according to the dictates of their own conscience. They established the
Massachusetts Bay Colony and the Congregational Church as their
established church. In one of the paradoxes of history, the Puritans who fled to America to obtain religious freedom became persecutors of those who dissented from their religious beliefs. As a result of their intolerance they banished, imprisoned, publicly whipped, taxed and seized the goods of those who refused to support a church they did not attend and pastors whose doctrines they rejected. The Baptists and Quakers were the primary recipients of this Puritan intolerance.
In 1741 Isaac Backus was converted during the Great Awakening. Fifteen years later in 1756, after years of struggling with the issue of infant baptism, Backus and six of his Separate Congregation were immersed and organized the Baptist church in Middleborough, Massachusetts. Backus and his family had personally suffered the indignities of religious intolerance. This suffering had made him a determined and active opponent of religious intolerance and a staunch defender of religious liberty.
In 1774 the thirteen colonies had voted to meet in Philadelphia to discuss their response to the British violations of their civil liberties. The Warren Baptist Association, believing this would be an ideal time to present their grievances, chose Isaac Backus to represent them before the Massachusetts Delegation. Backus and his fellow Baptists were seeking liberty of conscience for all dissenters and an end to the using of public funds for the support of any church or religious group.
The meeting took place October 14, 1774 in Carpenter’s Hall. Dr. James Manning, the President of Rhode Island College and pastor of First Baptist Church of Providence read the petition from the Baptists and Isaac Backus explained it. John Adams, the leader of the Massachusetts Delegation, was visibly agitated. He and Samuel Adams gave lengthy speeches and asserted that the Baptist claims of persecution and intolerance were exaggerated. Finally after four hours of discussion, John Adams said,
“Gentlemen if you mean to try to effect a change in Massachusetts laws respecting religion, you may as well attempt to change the course of the sun in the heavens.”
The Baptist delegation failed to obtain their objective but Backus, believing that religious liberty was a God-given right, continued to speak publicly, write pamphlets, and petition the legislature denouncing civil and religious intolerance. Unfortunately, Backus did not live to see the sun change its course for he died November 20, 1806, but his successors continued the battle until the Massachusetts Legislature finally passed a Bill of Rights in 1833 officially separating Church and State.
This legislation was enacted forty-two years after the U.S. Congress passed the Bill of Rights guaranteeing Religious Freedom. John Adams was wrong the course of the sun could be changed. We owe a great debt of gratitude to Isaac Backus and our Baptist forefathers for the sacrifice they made to obtain our religious liberty.
The Preamble to The Bill of Rights
Congress of the United States
begun and held at the City of New-York, on
Wednesday the fourth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine.
THE Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best ensure the beneficent ends of its institution.
RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following Articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as amendments to the Constitution of the United States, all, or any of which Articles, when ratified by three fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of the said Constitution; viz.
ARTICLES in addition to, and Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, proposed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the several States, pursuant to the fifth Article of the original Constitution.
Note: The following text is a transcription of the first ten amendments to the Constitution in their original form. These amendments were ratified December 15, 1791, and form what is known as the "Bill of Rights."
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Amendment II
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
Amendment III
No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Amendment V
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Amendment VI
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
Amendment VII
In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Amendment VIII
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Amendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Amendment X
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
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