Was it Compromise or Hypocrisy
Thomas Jefferson crafted the Declaration of Independence and meant every word he wrote, particularly the phrase that all men are created equal. He owned and kept 200 slaves in Montecillo but the fact is not enough to paint him as a hypocrite who preached one thing and did the opposite. One must check on how he treated his own slaves and how he stood about the issue of slavery through what he wrote to his public and to his friends.
There are several documents that will prove Jefferson was a defender of equal rights. In his Notes on Virginia, he did touch on the Negro slaves. It was with kindness and positivism that he looked at the plight of the slaves. If those against Jefferson find his reference to the Negro slaves as this blot in our country derogatory, they must consider that Jefferson was a man with an extraordinary gift in prose. He uses certain words to mean another. One must not always take the literal meaning of his words but the figurative sense that he would like to impart. In the case of the Negro slaves as this blot in our country he meant that what use to be minority is now becoming a majority. The entire sentence where in he had used the phrase must be taken in the right context. One must use caution in his interpretation of Jefferson. Similarly, in the same document, Jefferson described the mild treatment of slaves. He cited the assembly that repealed a law on the imposition of duty on the importation of slaves. Without such law the importation of slaves became rampant.
He was optimistic with the Prohibition Law passed by a republican congress that slavery would be forever banned. To his opinion slavery which he found as a political and moral evil would be abolished in the opportune time when minds will be conditioned and ready for Emancipation. These documented pronouncements support the belief that Jefferson saw the slavery issue in a perspective that was not contrary to the maxim that all men are created equal.
In the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson of the Continental Congress pushed for freedom from British rule. In his original rough draft of the Declaration equal and independent had been used together. He referred to the whole thirteen states wanting independence from Britain. He emphasized that the colonies and Britain were equal and independent from the other, neither inferior nor superior of the other. Slavery was not an issue in the Declaration, neither was it between the colonies and Britain. His crafting of the Declaration had little to do with his stand on equality among men with reference to slavery, but it had on his position of equality and independence between men and their governments. There was no specific mention here of the African-American, precisely because that would mean that they were a favored or disfavored sector, all men should appropriately suffice as it did not distinguish by race.
In his letter to William Burwell in January 28, 1805, Jefferson invited Burwell to visit Montecillo. He expressed his concern on the plight of slaves and his hope for the day to come when they will be released in their own way. This shows that he welcomed people to his home where his guests would have seen the real situations of his slaves. He had not released them even if he was convinced of the moral question in holding on to them because he wanted them to go in the proper time, in the manner they wanted to. The preparedness and willingness to face a strange and new life ahead must come along with the moral rightness in their release. This was a choice the slaves must make for themselves and Jefferson recognized and respected that right of choice.
If Anti-Jeffersons think that the colonists to whom injuries were committed by Britain meant only white colonists can be explained by his encompassing words we, all, our and us. Those who define which of the colonists, white, red or white, free men or slaves are the ones guilty of hypocrisy. Without question and beyond doubt, Thomas Jefferson was not a hypocrite in declaring that all are created equal.
There are several documents that will prove Jefferson was a defender of equal rights. In his Notes on Virginia, he did touch on the Negro slaves. It was with kindness and positivism that he looked at the plight of the slaves. If those against Jefferson find his reference to the Negro slaves as this blot in our country derogatory, they must consider that Jefferson was a man with an extraordinary gift in prose. He uses certain words to mean another. One must not always take the literal meaning of his words but the figurative sense that he would like to impart. In the case of the Negro slaves as this blot in our country he meant that what use to be minority is now becoming a majority. The entire sentence where in he had used the phrase must be taken in the right context. One must use caution in his interpretation of Jefferson. Similarly, in the same document, Jefferson described the mild treatment of slaves. He cited the assembly that repealed a law on the imposition of duty on the importation of slaves. Without such law the importation of slaves became rampant.
He was optimistic with the Prohibition Law passed by a republican congress that slavery would be forever banned. To his opinion slavery which he found as a political and moral evil would be abolished in the opportune time when minds will be conditioned and ready for Emancipation. These documented pronouncements support the belief that Jefferson saw the slavery issue in a perspective that was not contrary to the maxim that all men are created equal.
In the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson of the Continental Congress pushed for freedom from British rule. In his original rough draft of the Declaration equal and independent had been used together. He referred to the whole thirteen states wanting independence from Britain. He emphasized that the colonies and Britain were equal and independent from the other, neither inferior nor superior of the other. Slavery was not an issue in the Declaration, neither was it between the colonies and Britain. His crafting of the Declaration had little to do with his stand on equality among men with reference to slavery, but it had on his position of equality and independence between men and their governments. There was no specific mention here of the African-American, precisely because that would mean that they were a favored or disfavored sector, all men should appropriately suffice as it did not distinguish by race.
In his letter to William Burwell in January 28, 1805, Jefferson invited Burwell to visit Montecillo. He expressed his concern on the plight of slaves and his hope for the day to come when they will be released in their own way. This shows that he welcomed people to his home where his guests would have seen the real situations of his slaves. He had not released them even if he was convinced of the moral question in holding on to them because he wanted them to go in the proper time, in the manner they wanted to. The preparedness and willingness to face a strange and new life ahead must come along with the moral rightness in their release. This was a choice the slaves must make for themselves and Jefferson recognized and respected that right of choice.
If Anti-Jeffersons think that the colonists to whom injuries were committed by Britain meant only white colonists can be explained by his encompassing words we, all, our and us. Those who define which of the colonists, white, red or white, free men or slaves are the ones guilty of hypocrisy. Without question and beyond doubt, Thomas Jefferson was not a hypocrite in declaring that all are created equal.
Categories:
0 comments:
Post a Comment