Richard Mentor Johnson Quotes

United States, President
October 17, 1780 – November, 19, 1850.

Richard Mentor Johnson was the ninth vice president of the United States from 1837 to 1841. He is the only vice president elected by the United States Senate under the provisions of the Twelfth Amendment. Johnson also represented Kentucky in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate; he began and ended his political career in the Kentucky House of Representatives.

It is not the legitimate province of the Legislature to determine which religion is true, or what false. Our government is a civil, and not a religious institution.

Richard Mentor Johnson
What other nations call religious toleration, we call religious rights. They are not exercised in virtue of governmental indulgence, but as rights, of which government cannot deprive any portion of citizens, however small.

Richard Mentor Johnson

Among all the religious persecutions with which almost every page of modern history is stained, no victim ever suffered but for violation of what Government denominated the law of God. To prevent a similar train of evils in this country, the Constitution has wisely withheld from our Government the power of defining the divine law.

Richard Mentor Johnson
Our Constitution recognises no other power than that of persuasion, for enforcing religious observances.

Richard Mentor Johnson
Let the professors of Christianity recommend their religion by deeds of benevolence - by Christian meekness - by lives of temperance and holiness.

Richard Mentor Johnson
Their moral influence will then do infinitely more to advance the true interests of religion, than any measures which they may call on Congress to enact.

Richard Mentor Johnson