FAITH OF THE FOUNDERS: Justice Joseph Story on the God Question for Free America
(QUICK READ) — Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story was and remains to this day among the most influential of the many wise men by whose presence the early American decades were blessed following adoption of the Constitution in 1789.
Associate Justice Joseph Story (Supreme Court Historical Society)
Story was a long-time ally of Chief Justice John Marshall and he hoped to succeed Marshall in the High Court’s leading position upon Marshall’s passing in 1835. But then-President Andrew Jackson was determined to give that title to another man on the bench, Justice Roger Taney.
Jackson’s decision to go with Taney rather than Story ultimately would demonstrate the decisive truth of the maxim that decisions have consequences because it would be Taney who authors the disastrous Dred Scott decision in 1857.
The following quote from Story offers an important insight into his understanding of the relationship between the Law Giver, lawmakers and citizens:
“It yet remains a problem to be solved in human affairs, whether any free government can be permanent, where the public worship of God, and the support of religion, constitute no part of the policy or duty of the state in any assignable shape.
“The future experience of Christendom, and chiefly of the American states, must settle this problem, as yet new in the history of the world, abundant, as it has been, in experiments in the theory of government. — Joseph Story, Commentaries on the Constitution, 1833 Cited by Mark Strand.
Christian Life and Character of the Civil Institutions of the United States of America.
Many of the quotes reprinted in HillFaith’s “The Faith of The Founders” weekly series of posts are compiled from Benjamin F. Morris’ classic work, “The Christian Life and Character of the Civil Institutions of the United States.” Morris, an historian and pastor, published the first edition more than a century ago.
Quotations are also compiled from Mark Strand, author of the Daily Inspirations email he shares on request here and that HillFaith highly recommends to all congressional aides, be they working on Capitol Hill or in a state or district office back home.
Mark was for 16 years President of the Congressional Institute, and he is a former fellow of the Harvard Institute of Politics. He was also a 24-year veteran congressional staffer, including four years as Chief of Staff to Sen. James Talent (R-Missouri).