I told you to say, in reply, that the creation of such a law came more properly within the province of the state legislature; and to endeavor to show them that, in the present feebleness of the religious element in that new commonwealth, the expediency of incorporating the church was questionable.

What did you write?
"'WASHINGTON, Nov.

24.
"'Rev.John Halifax and others.
"'GENTLEMEN: You will have to go to the state legislature about that speculation of yours--Congress don't know anything about religion.
But don't you hurry to go there, either; because this thing you propose to do out in that new country isn't expedient--in fact, it is ridiculous.

Your religious people there are too feeble, in intellect, in morality, in piety in everything, pretty much.

You had better drop this--you can't make it work.