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to ascribe the doubtful power to that department which they may think
best。 You will perceive by these details； that we have not yet so
far perfected our constitutions as to venture to make them
unchangeable。 But still； in their present state； we consider them
not otherwise changeable than by the authority of the people； on a
special election of representatives for that purpose expressly： they
are until then the _lex legum_。
But can they be made unchangeable？ Can one generation bind
another； and all others； in succession forever？ I think not。 The
Creator has made the earth for the living； not the dead。 Rights and
powers can only belong to persons； not to things； not to mere matter；
unendowed with will。 The dead are not even things。 The particles of
matter which composed their bodies； make part now of the bodies of
other animals； vegetables； or minerals； of a thousand forms。 To what
then are attached the rights and powers they held while in the form
of men？ A generation may bind itself as long as its majority
continues in life； when that has disappeared； another majority is in
place； holds all the rights and powers their predecessors once held；
and may change their laws and institutions to suit themselves。
Nothing then is unchangeable but the inherent and unalienable rights
of man。
I was glad to find in your bo ok a formal contradition； at
length； of the judiciary usurpation of legislative powers； for such
the judges have usurped in their repeated decisions； that
Christianity is a part of the common law。 The proof of the contrary；
which you have adduced； is incontrovertible； to wit； that the common
law existed while the Anglo…Saxons were yet Pagans； at a time when
they had never yet heard the name of Christ pronounced； or knew that
such a character had ever existed。 But it may amuse you； to shew
when； and by what means； they stole this law in upon us。 In a case
of _quare impedit_ in the Year…book 34。 H。 6。 folio 38。 （anno 1458；）
a question was made； how far the ecclesiastical law was to be
respected in a common law court？ And Prisot； Chief Justice； gives
his opinion in these words； ‘A tiel leis qu' ils de seint eglise ont
en _ancien scripture_； covient a nous a donner credence； car ceo
common ley sur quels touts manners leis sont fondes。 Et auxy； Sir；
nous sumus obleges de conustre lour ley de saint eglise： et
semblablement ils sont obliges de conustre nostre ley。 Et； Sir； si
poit apperer or a nous que l'evesque ad fait come un ordinary fera en
tiel cas； adong nous devons ceo adjuger bon； ou auterment nemy；' &c。
See S。 C。 Fitzh。 Abr。 Qu。 imp。 89。 Bro。 Abr。 Qu。 imp。 12。 Finch in
his first book； c。 3。 is the first afterwards who quotes this case；
and mistakes it thus。 ‘To such laws of the church as have warrant in
_holy scripture_； our law giveth credence。' And cites Prisot；
mistranslating _‘ancien scripture；'_ into _‘holy scripture。'_ Whereas
Prisot palpably says； ‘to such laws as those of holy church have in
_antient writing_； it is proper for us to give credence；' to wit； to
their _antient written_ laws。 This was in 1613； a century and a half
after the dictum of Prisot。 Wingate； in 1658； erects this false
translation into a maxim of the common law； copying the words of
Finch； but citing Prisot。 Wing。 Max。 3。 And Sheppard； title；
‘Religion；' in 1675； copies the same mistranslation； quoting the Y。
B。 Finch and Wingate。 Hale expresses it in these words；
‘Christianity is parcel of the laws of England。' 1 Ventr。 293。 3 Keb。
607。 But he quotes no authority。 By these echoings and re…echoings
from one to another； it had become so established in 1728； that in
the case of the King _vs。_ Woolston； 2 Stra。 834； the court would not
suffer it to be debated； whether to write against Christianity was
punishable in the temporal court at common law？ Wood； therefore；
409； ventures still to vary the phrase； and say； that all blasphemy
and profaneness are offences by the common law； and cites 2 Stra。
Then Blackstone； in 1763； IV。 59； repeats the words of Hale； that
‘Christianity is part of the laws of England；' citing Ventris and
Strange。 And finally； Lord Mansfield； with a little qualification；
in Evans' case； in 1767； says； that ‘the essential principles of
revealed religion are part of the common law。' Thus ingulphing Bible；
Testament and all into the common law； without citing any authority。
And thus we find this chain of authorities hanging link by link； one
upon another； and all ultimately on one and the same hook； and that a
mistranslation of the words _‘ancien scripture；'_ used by Prisot。
Finch quotes Prisot； Wingate does the same。 Sheppard quotes Prisot；
Finch and Wingate。 Hale cites nobody。 The court in Woolston's case；
cite Hale。 Wood cites Woolston's case。 Blackstone quotes Woolston's
case and Hale。 And Lord Mansfield； like Hale； ventures it on his own
authority。 Here I might defy the best read lawyer to produce another
scrip of authority for this judiciary forgery； and I might go on
further to shew； how some of the Anglo…Saxon priests interpolated
into the text of Alfred's laws； the 20th； 21st； 22nd and 23rd
chapters of Exodus； and the 15th of the Acts of the Apostles； from
the 23rd to the 29th verses。 But this would lead my pen and your
patience too far。 What a conspiracy this； between Church and State！
Sing Tantarara； rogues all； rogues all； Sing Tantarara； rogues all！
I must still add to this long and rambling letter； my
acknowledgments for your good wishes to the University we are now
establishing in this State。 There are some novelties in it。 Of that
of a professorship of the principles of government； you express your
approbation。 They will be founded in the rights of man。 That of
agriculture； I am sure； you will approve： and that also of
Anglo…Saxon。 As the histories and laws left us in that type and
dialect； must be the text books of the reading of the learners； they
will imbibe with the language their free principles of government。
The volumes you have been so kind as to send； shall be placed in the
library of the University。 Having at this time in England a person
sent for the purpose of selecting some Professors； a Mr。 Gilmer of my
neighborhood； I cannot but recommend him to your patronage； counsel
and guardianship； against imposition； misinformation； and the
deceptions of partial and false recommendations； in the selection of
characters。 He is a gentleman of great worth and correctness； my
particular friend； well educated in various branches of science； and
worthy of entire confidence。
Your age of eighty…four and mine of eighty…one years； insure us
a speedy meeting。 We may then commune at leisure； and more fully； on
the good and evil； which； in the course of our long lives； we have
both witnessed； and in the mean time； I pray you to accept assurances
of my high veneration and esteem for your person and character。