Neil,

You did a lovely job of defending Martha. She really didn't deserve a man, 
who caused her to become pregnant six times in ten years. We know TJ was 
learned enough to understand what caused pregnancy, and that childbirth was 
endangering her life, but he seemed to make it of no consequence to him.

Incidentally, you quoted as fact that TJ promised Martha on her deathbed he 
would never remarry and put a stepmother in front of his daughters. This 
promise is said to be one of the stronger indications that TJ, who believed 
strongly that regular sex was vital to masculine health, would take a slave 
rather than break his promise to Martha. Marriage between him and Sally was 
forbidden by law. He did not have to worry that Sally would attempt to 
cooerce him into marriage.

Anne

Anne Pemberton
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http://www.erols.com/apembert
http://www.educationalsynthesis.org 

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