As history shows there was little risk; he did it, as did thousands,
even tens of thousands, of other white masters, with little or no cost.
What was the risk? There was no t.v., few reporters, and lots more
privacy than today; Sally could talk to no one, she was a slave. What
is the "everything" he could lose? His wealth, no. His other slaves, no.
His fame, no. His nice house, no. His popularity in Virginia (where
it was done all the time?) no.
Paul Finkelman
jporeilly1 wrote:
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "jporeilly1" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2003 5:39 PM
>Subject: Re: White slaves
>
>
>
>
>>I don't know! Maybe it's all a big lie. Did you ever think of
>>that? Do you really think a man of T.J's position would risk it
>>all to play with a (dime a dozen) slave girl? Get real. Think about
>>yourselves. Is
>>that stuff so sweet and so dear, that you would risk everything
>>you ever worked for, for your entire life? I know not what course you
>>boys may take, but as for me, .... Is that stuff really worth the risk
>>of losing everything? Wake up boys! You wouldn't do it and you know
>>T.J. wouldn't either! Now, then again, maybe his hot nephew might not be
>>
>>
>so
>
>
>>reluctant, huh?
>>
>>A Virginian
>>
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "Richard Dixon" <[log in to unmask]>
>>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2003 5:18 PM
>>Subject: White slaves
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>The assumption that Sally Hemings was the child of a black women and a
>>>white man seems accepted. Her children are also assumed to have been the
>>>children of a white man. Under the Virginia law at that time, they were
>>>white.Why then did Jefferson seek permission (also a requirement of
>>>statute) for Madison and Eston Hemings, freed under the terms of his
>>>
>>>
>will,
>
>
>>>to remain in Virginia. It was also provided by statute that the child of
>>>
>>>
>a
>
>
>>>slave women was born a slave, If the child were white and freed when an
>>>adult, why did he not become a "white man" and automatically divested of
>>>those requirements that control black freed slaves, i.e., leave the
>>>Commonwealth unless granted permission to stay by the General Assembly?
>>>
>>>
>>>Richard E. Dixon
>>>Clifton, VA 20124-2115
>>>703-830-8177
>>>fax 703-691-0978
>>>
>>>To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the
>>>
>>>
>instructions
>
>
>>>at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html
>>>
>>>
>>>
>
>To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions
>at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html
>
>
>
--
Paul Finkelman
Chapman Distinguished Professor of Law
University of Tulsa College of Law
3120 East 4th Place
Tulsa, OK 74104-3189
918-631-3706 (office)
918-631-2194 (fax)
[log in to unmask]
To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions
at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html
|
