Just to keep the record straight, Jefferson SOLD his collection of 6487 volumes
to the nation for $23,950 -- a great bargain accepted by Congress by a vote of
81 to 71. He arranged to have $4870 paid to John Barnes to settle a debt TJ
owed to Kosciuszko, $10500 directly to William Short to pay off his debt to
Short, and the balance came to Jefferson himself.
See Malone's Sage of Monticello (vol 6 of his Jefferson and His Time) chapter
12.
Jon Kukla
==============
malinda 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
>
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--
Jon Kukla
1250 Red Hill Road
Brookneal, Virginia 23528
434 376-4172
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