Thomas Jefferson on Freedom of Conscience and Speech

“I am for freedom of religion, and against all manoeuvres to bring about a legal ascendancy of one sect over another: for freedom of the press, and against all violations of the Constitution to silence by force and not by reason the complaints or criticisms, just or unjust, of our citizens against the conduct of their agents.”

-Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Elbridge Gerry, January 26, 1799