Treaty of Tripoli?

[AFTT47]

The Treaty of Tripoli is a fact. It is mostly a testament of the First Congress since they approved that treaty unanimously. History fails to record any outrage from the voters resulting in the ousters of those first reps and senators. Of course, the news in that day wasn't what it is today so it's not like many of the voters probably knew.

I believe the final version of that treaty, signed by President Adams DID NOT contain the portion about America not being founded on the Christian religion and nobody is sure why.

I cringe when I see people quoting George Washington (who was President when the bill was approved by congress) or John Adams (who was the President who signed it) as having approved the idea that, "The United States of America was not founded on the Christian religion." I'm sure both of those men would have affirmed that if asked but the Treaty of Tripoli is definitely not proof of that. I guess it's fair to say that the 1st Congress affirmed that. It's important but I think atheists make too much of it sometimes.

I have little doubt that there will soon be a political (or perhaps 'social' would be a better word) movement where we as atheists will demand recognition as good and moral citizens. I look forward to that. When the time comes, we will need to be 100% honest. It will reflect very badly on us if we overstate things like The Treraty of Tripoli. It IS an important card up our sleeves but not if we overplay it. If we do that, it will be a liability as it will make us look dishonest.

[Minimalist]

I believe the final version of that treaty, signed by President Adams DID NOT contain the portion about America not being founded on the Christian religion and nobody is sure why.

Okay.  First, this was 1796-7 and the fastest thing moving was a sailing ship.  It took seven months for the signed document to make its way back to the US and in May, 1797 President Adams duly submitted it, with Article 11, to the senate for ratification.

Neither Adams nor Washington "signed" the treaty as, according to the custom of the day, it was negotiated by plenipotentiaries who did not have to report back on every little detail. 

Adams did write a brief note to the senate in which he asked for their advice and consent on the treaty which he noted had been signed in November, 1796.

See it below.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c...ripoli.gif

Had President Adams been pissed off about the "fuck jesus" clause he could have said so in his note to the senate.  He did not.

What President Adams did say, long after leaving office was:

"As I understand the Christian religion, it was, and is, a revelation. But how has it happened that millions of fables, tales, legends, have been blended with both Jewish and Christian revelation that have made them the most bloody religion that ever existed?" --- John Adams, letter to F.A. Van der Kamp, Dec. 27, 1816

The senate ratified the treaty on June 7, 1797 by the 23 ( of a total of 32) senators who were present for the vote.