Worse than that, legendary; Jefferson had a black slave mistress, and not only allowed his children to stay in slavery, but to be sold. Furthermore, he took careful steps to make sure that Sally Hemings was not freed while he was in France (where it was against French law), and wrote fearfully of “a mixing of colour here.” Finally, while he freed a ludicrously small number of his slaves at his death, he broke up a family by doing so - freeing one but letting the man’s wife be sold for Jefferson’s debts. And even if you have some sympathy for his debts (and I don’t, for a man who was so self-righteous in life), there was the option to send them to Liberia, which was a legal and possible option. His descendants by Sally Hemings have finally been acknowledged by the white Jefferson descendants – but not by choice. DNA confirmation rather forced their hands. Man, even Strom Thurmond did better than that.
Nobody seems to have noticed that the source for the cartoon is NOT the Constitutional Convention of 1787, but the 12’ x 18’ John Trumbull mural, commissioned in 1817 and placed in the Capitol in 1826, of the Declaration of Independence Committee (Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, Livingston, Sherman) presenting their draft to Congress. The scene itself is usually mistaken to be the signing of the Declaration, further mistaken as being done on July 4th, when, in fact only John Hancock signed the handwritten draft that day, and most didn’t sign the engrossed parchment document until August 2nd.
Mike should have gone with the Howard Christy painting of the “Scene at the Signing of the Constitution of the United States,” which hangs along the east stairway of the House of Reps.
peter, most of what I said is simply fact even if he were not the parents of Hemings’ children – this is a man who spoke out repeatedly and passionately against slavery, but when it came to action fell short. This is in contrast to fellow Virginian George Washington.
To be fair, I started searching around, and also found this link to the Frontline story, which also included a statement to the writer you cite: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/jefferson/enigma/
I went to his website, too, and read his statement. It’s not convincing to me. He dismisses anyone who claims Jefferson was a father to the Hemings as “hearsay” but cites anyone who fits his view as “evidence.” He also does not really confront the DNA evidence other than trying to refer to Jefferson’s nephews, which is an old story and in fact the original story until this DNA analysis was done.
And on one level I have great sympathy for Jefferson - Sally Hemings was his wife’s half-sister, and he was utterly devoted to his wife. I can see that after his wife’s death, that Jefferson would find it easy to persuade himself to take up with a woman who reminded him of his real wife. It’s what he did about it that I object to.
And even if you are 100% correct, peter, it STILL doesn’t justify Jefferson’s shameful record as regards slavery.
Motivemagus about 14 years ago
Is that Ben Franklin?
Dtroutma about 14 years ago
Larry Craig’s great, great, grandfather? Hey, swings both ways dude.
lonecat about 14 years ago
Don’t forget Jefferson. The founding fathers took their work seriously.
d_legendary1 about 14 years ago
Thomas Jefferson had a mistress.
GASP!
comYics about 14 years ago
Maybe Mike Luckovich is coming out.
Charles Brobst Premium Member about 14 years ago
They only groped their slaves.
nerual53 Premium Member about 14 years ago
Yes, Massa
Motivemagus about 14 years ago
Worse than that, legendary; Jefferson had a black slave mistress, and not only allowed his children to stay in slavery, but to be sold. Furthermore, he took careful steps to make sure that Sally Hemings was not freed while he was in France (where it was against French law), and wrote fearfully of “a mixing of colour here.” Finally, while he freed a ludicrously small number of his slaves at his death, he broke up a family by doing so - freeing one but letting the man’s wife be sold for Jefferson’s debts. And even if you have some sympathy for his debts (and I don’t, for a man who was so self-righteous in life), there was the option to send them to Liberia, which was a legal and possible option. His descendants by Sally Hemings have finally been acknowledged by the white Jefferson descendants – but not by choice. DNA confirmation rather forced their hands. Man, even Strom Thurmond did better than that.
Kryolux about 14 years ago
Nobody seems to have noticed that the source for the cartoon is NOT the Constitutional Convention of 1787, but the 12’ x 18’ John Trumbull mural, commissioned in 1817 and placed in the Capitol in 1826, of the Declaration of Independence Committee (Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, Livingston, Sherman) presenting their draft to Congress. The scene itself is usually mistaken to be the signing of the Declaration, further mistaken as being done on July 4th, when, in fact only John Hancock signed the handwritten draft that day, and most didn’t sign the engrossed parchment document until August 2nd.
Mike should have gone with the Howard Christy painting of the “Scene at the Signing of the Constitution of the United States,” which hangs along the east stairway of the House of Reps.
petergrt about 14 years ago
Motive, much of your vitriolic rant against TJ has been proven to be, well, poop …The latest book goes a long way to enlighten - do partake some …
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0934211663/qid=1061501903/sr=8-1/ref=sr81/104-4600621-2267132?v=glance&s=books&n=507846
Motivemagus about 14 years ago
peter, most of what I said is simply fact even if he were not the parents of Hemings’ children – this is a man who spoke out repeatedly and passionately against slavery, but when it came to action fell short. This is in contrast to fellow Virginian George Washington. To be fair, I started searching around, and also found this link to the Frontline story, which also included a statement to the writer you cite: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/jefferson/enigma/ I went to his website, too, and read his statement. It’s not convincing to me. He dismisses anyone who claims Jefferson was a father to the Hemings as “hearsay” but cites anyone who fits his view as “evidence.” He also does not really confront the DNA evidence other than trying to refer to Jefferson’s nephews, which is an old story and in fact the original story until this DNA analysis was done. And on one level I have great sympathy for Jefferson - Sally Hemings was his wife’s half-sister, and he was utterly devoted to his wife. I can see that after his wife’s death, that Jefferson would find it easy to persuade himself to take up with a woman who reminded him of his real wife. It’s what he did about it that I object to. And even if you are 100% correct, peter, it STILL doesn’t justify Jefferson’s shameful record as regards slavery.
Brandon67 about 14 years ago
Priceless! An let us not forget about Thomas Jefferson extra circular activities also.