Following piracy enslaving Americans and non-Muslims afflicting the young nation’s Mediterranean trade, the United States signed the Treaty of Tripoli in 1797. Article 11 of the treaty states
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, religious 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.”
To call out a key phrase: “the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion“.
I’ve read that some people suggest that Arabic version doesn’t include this passage, but the US Congress unanimously ratified the English version, which President John Adams signed. Moreover, Adams added:
Now be it known, That I John Adams, President of the United States of America, having seen and considered the said Treaty do, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, accept, ratify, and confirm the same, and every clause and article thereof. And to the End that the said Treaty may be observed, and performed with good Faith on the part of the United States, I have ordered the premises to be made public; And I do hereby enjoin and require all persons bearing office civil or military within the United States, and all other citizens or inhabitants thereof, faithfully to observe and fulfill the said Treaty and every clause and article thereof.
According to this site, which cited the US Library of Congress (that page’s link didn’t work, but the source seems to be somewhere in here)
Official records show that after President John Adams sent the treaty to the U.S. Senate for ratification in May 1797, the entire treaty was read aloud on the Senate floor, and copies were printed for every Senator. A committee considered the treaty and recommended ratification. Twenty-three of the thirty-two sitting Senators were present for the June 7th vote which unanimously approved the ratification recommendation.
The US Constitution says:
This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land.
This treaty’s text, that “the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion” seems to be the supreme Law of the Land, at least according to the Constitution.
What do you think?