"what-we-lose-when-we-lose-Thomas-Jefferson" Topic

Thanks doc, but I am as flawed as anyone!

Based on Jefferson's subsequent actions, beginning with his cowardice as Virginia's governor during the British incursion, I am not an admirer.

However, that being the case, the current 'revisionism' against certain of the Founders and other American historical personages, is not only short-sighted, but it is also inaccurate, self-serving, and ahistorical.

Historical figures should be judged in the norms and ethics of their period, not the sack-cloth-and-ashes mindset of those who want to denigrate those who founded the United States.

Their greatest achievement is that they left us a country where none existed before.

The same thing is being attempted with Winston Churchill in the recent book Churchill's Shadow by Geoffrey Wheatcroft.

Kevin, yes, though I would dispute your description of TJ as cowardly. But on the whole I agree.

Well said Kevin, although I think that I too would have bugged out of Richmond rather than fall into the tender mercy of Ban Tarleton.

Ditto. Well said, indeed, Brechtel.

That claim is FALSE. Period. It was first put forth by political opponents of Thomas Jefferson, who by the way had no evidence whatsoever except that "some of his slaves had light skin. Which is more likely— that a 65 year-old-man in time when 65 was considered "elderly", fathered a son on a slave who had been his daughter's close companion and practically a second daughter, or that his amoral ne'er-do-well, profligate jack-ass of a nephew raped her, counting on slavery to shut her up?
You do the math."

Math indeed. It should be easy enough to determine, right?

The birthdates of most of Sally Hemings' children are recorded. TJ was at Montecello, in every case, 9 months prior to the birth. I think that was established by Winthrop Jordan back in the early 1960s.

Was his nephew Randolph present at the right time(s)?

If you want to pin paternity for six kids on the nephew, wouldn't you have to – at a minimum – establish Randolph's whereabouts 9 months prior to each birth?

I would think that anybody on a mission to clear Jefferson of this rumor by pinning it on the nephew would have that data at the ready?

Joe Ellis said that Randolph wasn't there:

"white Jefferson descendants who established the family denial in the mid-nineteenth century cast responsibility for paternity on two Jefferson nephews (children of Jefferson's sister) whose DNA was not a match. So, as far as can be reconstructed, there are no Jeffersons other than the president who had the degree of physical access to Sally Hemings that he did."

I believe even Monticello itself tells visitors that TJ was the father. I went some years ago, and that was considered established fact by the docents there.

Jefferson did not prepare his state for defense. Jefferson's greatest error in this evolution was to resign before his term was done leaving the state leaderless.

This might be helpful:

Flight From Monticello by Michael Kranish.

link

From Mark Boatner's Encyclopedia of the American Revolution, pages 553-558:

'He was not a man of arms, dreaded the duties of a soldier, had no stomach for physical combat.'-554.

'The philosopical qualities that made him so conspicuous as a planner and prophet were of little avail to him, however, as an executive.'-555.

'Resourceful in counsel, he was ever hesitant and reluctant in the exercise of authority, the very necessity of which he deplored.'-555.

'He got by the first year [of his term as governor], but when the British were able to make a serious military effort in Virginia in 1781 Jefferson's miserable failure as a leader was a vivid illustration of what happens to a society guided by a philosopher when it needs a 'man on horseback.' Unwilling to use means of doubtful legality even in times of crisis, and maintaining his confidence in militia, he became a pathetic spectacle of ineptitude. When British occupation of Richmond forced the legislature to Charlottesville, where they were called to meet on 24 May 1781, Jefferson proceeded to nearby Monticelle and last exercised his functions as governor on 3 June. Then, interpreting his term to have expired, even though a successor had not been elected, he in effect abdicated.'-555.

link

When I was at Monticello in 1964, there was a portrait of Sally Hemmings in the house's foyer.

Draw your own conclusion.

This has been hashed out on this site before, so I will keep it brief. Thomas Jefferson did not "resign before his term was done". His term expired. The Virginia General Assembly failed to elect a new governor before Jefferson's term expired. It would have been no big deal, except that Tarleton's raiders arrived to chase the General Assembly off to Staunton, causing a further delay of a couple of weeks in electing the new governor. During that time the head of the Council was acting governor which is what Virginia law said should happen.

This is from Flight from Monticello: Thomas Jefferson at War by Michael Kranish:

Jefferson referring to himself in the third person:

'His office was now near expiring, the country under invasion by a powerful army, no services but military of any avail, unprepared by his line of life and education for the command of armies, he believed it right not to stand in the way of talents better fitted than his own to the circumstances under which the country was placeed.'-278.

The narrative in the volume describes it:

'As Tarleton approached Charlottesville, Jefferson informed the legislative leaders who had stayed at Monticello that his duties as governor were ended. His term expired at the beginning of June, and he did not intend to serve again. Jefferson previously had mentioned his intention to some legislators; others, however, were unaware of his plan, and no succession had been arranged.'-278.

'Several legislators were dismayed that Jefferson's decision left the state without a chief executive. The full legislature would have to meet to elect a new leader.'-278.

Regarding the comments in the last two paragraphs the following timeline is critical:
June 2, 1780 Thomas Jefferson was elected to his second term of office as Governor of Virginia "for one year".*
May 7, 1781 the Virginia legislature convenes in Richmond. Lacking a quorum and learning of the British approach the legislature adjourned on May 10 to reconvene in Charlottesville on May 24.*
May 24, 1781 the legislature convened in Charlottesville, but lacking a quorum did not begin conducting business until May 28.*
May 28, 1781 to June 2 the Legislature met in Charlottesville and conducted business.*
June 2, 1781, a Saturday, the legislature met and made arrangements for the election of a new governor when it next met on Monday June 4.*
June 3, 1781 Jefferson's term of office expires according to most source. (Why would it not have been June 2, since that was the one year anniversary of his election.)
June 3, 1781 Tarleton leaves Cornwallis's camp to raid Charlottesville with the goal of capturing Jefferson and the legislature
June 3, 1781 in the evening Jack Jouett learns of Tarleton's raid and sets out to warn Jefferson and the legislature
June 4, 1781 at around 5:00 a.m. Jack Jouett warns of Tarleton's approach.
June 4, 1781 the decision is made to reconvene the legislature on June 7 at Staunton*
June 7, 1781 the Virginia legislature reconvenes at Staunton and agrees that it will consider the election of a governor on June 12.*
June 8, 1781 the Virginia legislature met and conducted other business.*
June 9, 1781 Thomas Jefferson wrote William Fleming, acting governor under Virginia law, conveying to him two packages of Virginia government papers that Jefferson secured before leaving Charlottesville. Fleming acknowledged receipt on June 14.+
June 11, 1781 the Virginia legislature met and conducted other business.*
June 12, 1781 the Virginia legislature met and elected Thomas Nelson, Jr. governor along with other business.*

The items marked * are from the journals of the Virginia House. The item marked + are from correspondence between Fleming and Jefferson. The marked items are not my opinions, but are instead verifiable facts.

1. Jefferson's re-election as governor would have required a meeting of the legislature just as the election of Thomas Nelson Jr. required a meeting of the legislature.

2. The Virginia legislature was meeting and conducting business in the days leading up to the expiration of Jefferson's term.

3. The Virginia legislature was aware of the need to elect a governor and made the decision to defer the election until June 4.

4. Jefferson's term expired before he learned of Tarleton's raid on June 4.

5. Under Virginia law in the absence of a Governor William Fleming was next in line. There is supposedly an archive of the actions taken by William Fleming in the Library of Virginia.

6. Having a term expire and choosing not to seek re-election is not the same thing as resigning.

Why do i have the impression that the OP thinks moving TJ from one room to another is an attempt to erase our history but Southern secession wasnt?