Last Saturday Linda and I visited Monticello, Jefferson’s home near Charlottesville, Virginia. I’ve always liked Jefferson. I love the part of his Declaration that says when a government tries to reduce people under absolute despotism, they not only have a right to revolt, it is their duty to revolt. What an inspiring piece of work.
Jefferson was a naturalist and a scientist. The Lewis and Clark expedition was sent not only to stake out territory, but also to study flora and fauna and the Indians. Jefferson himself experimented with plants and grew hundreds of experimental varieties of vegetables and berries. I bought some seed packets of melons and peppers he grew.
So why wasn’t I more awed to be standing in his house, walking in his garden? I guess I can’t quite get past the slavery issue. When Jefferson wrote in 1811, “No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, and no culture comparable to that of the garden,” he was the master of about 140 slaves, and I’m pretty sure they planted the squash, spread the manure, hoed the corn, pulled the weeds, and picked the raspberries.
When he wrote about yeoman farmers being the strength of the nation, he was hardly a good example as he sat in Monticello surrounded by thousands of acres. And did he ever think of that phrase about “absolute despotism” when he had one of the slaves whipped as an example?
I am fully aware that you should not judge historical figures by current standards. On the other hand, George Washington made provisions to free his slaves and provide care for the older slaves upon his death. Jefferson’s slaves were sold off.
Incidentally, the interpretative efforts of the Foundation that runs Monticello do not sugarcoat the issue of slavery. The souvenir store has a whole table of material on Sally Hemmings and slavery in general, and reconstruction of the slave quarters is in the planning stages.
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