Only if you insist on twisting my words around.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Anne Pemberton" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, March 29, 2002 5:57 PM
Subject: Re: Why the study of Jefferson and Slavery Matters
> What you seem to be saying, Malinda, is that the TJ's slaves paid for the
> democracy we now enjoy and the Library of Congress?
>
> Anne
>
> At 05:29 PM 3/29/02 -0600, you wrote:
> >You're being a bit harsh in your "studied" assessment.
> >
> >Most of the debt Thomas Jefferson was incumbered with derived from
> >two sources :
> >
> >1) He assumed the debts of his father-in-law
> >2) He spent many years focusing his attention on the development of the
> >democracy we now enjoy...and giving to the American Revolution (you
> >remember the Army of the Potomac don't you ?) ....rather than lavishing
> >his time and money on his own estate.
> >
> >Oh...and all those fine books of his ? He donated them to the democracy
> >for which we stand...they were the beginnings of the Library of Congress.
> >
> >
> >~malinda
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Janet Hunter" <[log in to unmask]>
> >To: <[log in to unmask]>
> >Sent: Friday, March 29, 2002 4:40 PM
> >Subject: Re: Why the study of Jefferson and Slavery Matters
> >
> >
> > > Kevin and everyone,
> > >
> > > Last year about this time, with the release April 12, 2001 of the
> > > Jefferson-Hemings Scholars Commison Report
> > > (http://www.geocities.com/tjshcommission), etc., we had an extended
> > > discussion of this issue, as you may recall if you were on the list.
> > >
> > > I apologize if this has already been pointed out, but the suggestion
of
> >some
> > > to explain why Jefferson's seeming moral position on slavery collided
with
> > > his personal behaviour, might be traced to the fact that his personal
> >habits
> > > put new meaning to the phrase "last of the big-time spenders". The
man
> > > appears to have been in hock up to his ears, and his slaves were an
> >important
> > > part of his "moveable assets". He simply couldn't afford to free
them.
> > >
> > > Whether or not he was aware that this was the fix/dilemma he was
getting
> > > himself into when he made his original comments is unknown. He, of
> >course,
> > > DID have a choice. He could have done the unthinkable and sold
> >Monticello,
> > > its contents, etc., etc. instead of keeping his slaves to be sold when
he
> > > died and the wolves appeared at the door.
> > >
> > > If this is what you meant by "weak", then you are correct. The man
liked
> > > fine expensive "things", books, collectibles, etc. He was human, but
he I
> > > believe he HAD to have realized what he was doing in terms of
financial
> > > irresponsibility would impact whatever his feelings were about
slavery.
> > > Maybe he was waiting for that $1 million book deal? $5,000 per
speaking
> > > engagement? <smile>
> > >
> > > My best regards,
> > >
> > > Janet (Baugh) Hunter
> > >
> > > 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
>
> Anne Pemberton
> [log in to unmask]
>
> http://www.erols.com/stevepem
> http://www.geocities.com/apembert45
>
> 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
|
