James Madison, religious liberty and union

Madison's commitment to freedom of conscience -- often portrayed as an entirely negative liberty -- should also be understood as a positive liberty, given the capacity of religion to promote both individual virtues and political union. I briefly discuss Madison's understanding of the connection between freedom of conscience and other freedoms, and then focus on his application of this theoretical position to specific political problems: the propriety of religious exemptions from generally applicable laws, and the issuance of religious proclamations. In both instances, Madison's position emphasized how religion could support the political unity he believed to be necessary for the good of the regime.