Anne,
Many people "mix up" things when it is convenient or will enhance their
position. I do NOT "go by Madison's word" on anything (this newspaper
article was used as a major "road map" by Monticello) to establish FACTS of
what they believed to be truth. The Scholars Commission Report (13 top level
scholars, black, white and female), www.tjheritage.org, had trouble with
Madison's claims and I am pretty sure that Henry Wiencek may also have in
his forthcoming book on Jefferson. A "deep" study of this Pike County
newspaper article brings forth many interesting things. What the reporter
"may have assumed" is not quiet factual and if Samuel Wetmore, the reporter,
did not think Madison had grounds for making that statement then WHY did he
print it? The opposition newspaper, the Waverly Watchman,
five days after the Pike County Republican article, "blasted" the article
as, "The fact that Hemings claims to be the natural son of Jefferson does
not convince the world of it's truthfulness." It can be read in it's
completeness at the Library of Va."
To show how your attempt to mislead the reader regarding Dolley's "NO" VA.
trip on Jan 19,1805, where was she....in Washington acting as Mr.
Jefferson's Hostess in the White House during the very early beginning of
his 2nd term. The Madison Papers indicate that the Madisons NEVER traveled
to Va. from Washington during winter. How about this possible scenario:
Dolley hears that a slave is to give birth to a MALE (a few years before
that could be verified), and she must be present to name him for her
husband, James Madison. She notifies both gentlemen, left in Washington, and
sleds off to Monticello alone except for her drivers, and after three or
four grueling and tiring cold days she arrives, names Sally's son James
Madison and heads back to Washington. But Madison says, that even though she
promised his mother a present like all white people she never did. Do we
catch the drift here? By the way, it is NOT insignificant as you
suggest........a MAJOR misstatement I must say.
Herb Barger
Herbert,
Yes, I mixed up Madison and Eston in mentioning Wisconsin. Nevertheless, you
cannot say "NEVER" when you have no idea whatsoever what was actually said
in the conversation between Madison and the reporter. The reporter may have
assumed that everyone understood that a son would be told his paternity by
his mother, ir not his father. And he didn't rule out his father telling him
either, come to think of it.
The story of Dolley Madison present at his birth may have a very logical
explanation if we were present at the time and place. Without it, we can
only go by Madison's word, that Dolley had input into the naming of Madison.
Since he was not present at the time, he had to rely on what he was told.
The actually bargain for the naming may have happened some months earlier,
and it is also possible that the travel and location of Dolley on the date
of his birth in January is faulty. We cannot know for certain. So your
presumption in eliminating all that Madison said because you can't confirm
this insignificant detail is not pragmatic.
Anne
Anne Pemberton
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http://www.erols.com/apembert
http://www.educationalsynthesis.org
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