Jefferson's Letter to the Danbury Baptists

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.
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.
Th Jefferson
Jan. 1. 1802.
Original
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