MRJ said:
Mike said:
To MRJ concerning Thomas Jefferson and slavery:
Furthermore, recall that Virginia law did not recognize slave families. Therefore, if a slave was freed, the law made it almost impossible for him to remain near his spouse, children, or his family members who had not been freed, for the law required that a freed slave promptly depart the State or else reenter slavery:
If any slave hereafter emancipated shall remain within this Commonwealth more than twelve months after his or her right to freedom shall have accrued, he or she shall forfeit all such right and may be apprehended and sold. 31
It was under difficult laws like these–under laws even more restrictive than those Washington had faced–that Jefferson was required to operate. Nevertheless, as a slave owner (he, like Washington, had inherited slaves), Jefferson maintained a consistent public opposition to slavery and assiduously labored to end slavery both in his State and in the nation.
{I should have made it more clear in that post that I was not criticizing Jefferson for his actions then, but was pointing out that ideas change as time progresses...... The end.
MRJ}
It was obvious to me that you WERE criticizing Jefferson by pointing out that he was a slaveholder and therefore his wisdom is to be questioned to suit your agenda. His ideas did not change with time. He was trying to end slavery then and would be now.
{Again, you move the words about to attempting to make it appear I'm saying something other than what I was! I did NOT say that Jeffersons ideas changed with times. I said that IDEAS change with times, clear to most people as meaning that the IDEAS of SOCIETY as a whole change over time, especially the long term such as discussed here. Of course, that fact doesn't suit YOUR agenda!
Further, I'm certain you understand my point was that Jefferson was doing nothing believed immoral or wrong by many of his peers IF he did father children with slave. Maybe, being a southerner, you are a little more touchy about this subject than the population in general. Slavery was bad, the USA took the lead in ending it in this nation. It ended here. Too bad those who still want to fight the "slave wars" don' tput as much energy into ending the current slave trade alive and active in the world today, as they do into castigating, and seeking to profit from, the USA over our long ended historic involvement in slavery, BTW. MRJ}
SH pointed nothing out to me. You either, except your ignorance of history.
) to be auctioned off for the Sandhills Cattle Association fund raiser. They fairly well "sold like hotcakes". The bid was $110 for one book, and then two other parties each took a book for $110. The bidding started over, and the next high bid was $70 for a book. Two others sold for $70 each. The bidding started over again, and the remaining four books brought $50 each. He did throw in a free autograph with each book. The SCA made $740 off of his donation, so he felt pretty good.