As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself
no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.
Now...Follow this...AS The Constitution
Recognizes BY the FIRST AMENDMENT...
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
It was the
opinion by said treaty that The UNITED STATES
had no religious QUARREL with that of the
Mussulmen, but rather THAT of the
seizing of our ships, our Commerce, and our SEAMEN, for SAKE of
Religion.
The President nor this country would afford the DISPUTE to a RELIGIOUS WAR. But Rather worded the TREATY to allay fears that our problem with them was ONE of RELIGIOUS GROUNDS.
WE Did not want the dispute to escalate to ONE of religion, but rather to address this to a matter of
commerce, and the exercise of FREE COMMERCE to which the Barbary Pirates were
interfering.
