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