tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896336562539866758.post8014602801584614790..comments2024-01-09T01:14:01.156-08:00Comments on Patriots and Peoples: Thomas Jefferson: Abolitionist?James Stripeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437334325501974461noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896336562539866758.post-69146118828306851092010-01-11T05:23:17.858-08:002010-01-11T05:23:17.858-08:00Unfotunately, you have to accept that Jefferson wa...Unfotunately, you have to accept that Jefferson was a rank hypocrite. The most damning evidence is that Thaddeus Kosciuszko, the Polish hero of the Revolutionary War, left $15,000 to Jefferson that was to used to buy the freedom of slaves, either Jefferson's or others. Instead of fulfilling the wishes of his friend, which he had previously agreed to, Jefferson declined to be the executor of the money and it reverted to Kosciuszko's Polish estate. Jefferson probably did that because freeing slaves would have offended his Virginia buddies. If you want to honor a true believer in equality, check out Thaddeus Stevens, who ironically was named after Kosciuszko.Ross Hetrickhttp://thaddeusstevenssociety.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896336562539866758.post-41642255464854364382008-04-19T13:57:00.000-07:002008-04-19T13:57:00.000-07:00His statement that ending slavery is part of "eman...<I>His statement that ending slavery is part of "emancipation of human nature" lends credence to the view that he may have considered the assertion that "all men are created equal" in the Declaration of Independence to include African Americans.</I><BR/><BR/>I don't think there's much doubt about that, really. The problem comes in Jefferson's own hypocrisy, which he recognized but did not fix in his lifetime. Jefferson included a section against slavery in the Declaration of Independence, blaming the British crown for burdening America with the institution. It was amended out before the Continental Congress approved the document. <BR/><BR/>Jefferson understood only too well that slavery corrupted slaveholder as well as the slaves. He still couldn't bring himself to give up what little wealth he had, to sacrifice his lifestyle, and perhaps his love, and free his own slaves. Only Washington did that, and only in his will, and only for his own slaves (not Martha's). These guys understood the problems, but couldn't find a clean way out.Ed Darrellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10056539160596825210noreply@blogger.com