Once in a while I read something that surprises me, like, say, the eleventh article of the 1796 treaty with the Bey of Tripoli...
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 tranquility of Musselmen; and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan 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.
I'm surprised that I haven't read this before, as it seems relevant to several hot issues these days.
Via Alex Tabarrok, who notes that the treaty was read in the Senate and passed unanimously, and published in several newspapers without stirring opposition.
Posted by Walter at November 16, 2005 07:24 PM"I'm surprised that I haven't read this before...."
Not my fault!
Posted by: Gary Farber at November 17, 2005 02:22 PMUnfortuantely this article is somewhat dubious:
http://www.infidels.org/news/atheism/arguments.html#usanot
Summary: Article XI only appears in the English version of the treaty, not the Arabic, and when the treaty was re-ratified the article was left out.