"The Constitution regards the conscience of the Jew as sacred as
that of the Christian, and gives no more authority to adopt a
measure affecting the conscience of a solitary individual than of a
whole community. That representative who would violate this
principle would lose his delegated character, and forfeit the
confidence of his constituents. If Congress should declare the
first day of the week holy, it would not convince the Jew nor the
Sabbatarian. It would dissatisfy both, and consequently convert
neither....If a solemn act of legislation shall in one point define
the law of God, or point out to the citizen one religious duty, it
may with equal propriety define every part of revelation, and
enforce every religious obligation, even to the forms and
ceremonies of worship, the endowments of the church and support of
the clergy."

"The framers of the Constitution recognized the eternal principle
that man's relation to his God is above human legislation, and his
right of conscience inalienable. Reasoning was not necessary to
establish this truth, we are conscious of it in our own bosom. It
is this consciousness which, in defiance of human laws, has
sustained so many martyrs in tortures and flames. They felt that
their duty to God was superior to human enactments, and that man
could exercise no authority over their consciences. It is an inborn
principle which nothing can eradicate."

"It is also a fact that counter memorials, equally respectable,
oppose the interference of Congress on the ground that it would be
legislating upon a religious subject, and therefore
unconstitutional."