1821 Oct. 27

To Toreno

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Letter VII Religion

§. Positions on priestly influence

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6. But supposing the new limited Government to maintain itself and the hope of seeing the old absolute government at an end, if /so long as/ under the new government the matter of reward be, as /though it be/ ever so small a quantity at the disposal of /any one of/ the rulers, the influence of the priesthood will be employed in supporting the particular interest of those same rulers and enabling and encouraging them to make the sinister sacrifice abovementioned.

7. One of the mischiefs of Monarchical government wherever established, whether absolute or limited, is the confederacy it has formed with priestly influence: giving support to it both by punishment and reward and receiving support from it in return

8. In a Representative Democracy, it is natural that no such confederacy be formed: and if none such have place, priestly influence to prevent it from being noxious coercion by the power of government is not in any shape necessary: free discussion in speech and writing is quite sufficient

9. When to an absolute one[?] Monarchy in strict confederacy with an established priesthood has been succeeded by a representative and thence limited one in such sort that the priesthood is in a state of hostility with it, it may be matter of necessity or at least of use to employ punishment for defence against such hostility. But in the demand thus created for penal support by punishment can never be lacking, the laws by which the government provides for itself such support ought never to be other than temporary.