| Episodes |
Jefferson as Slave Master: A View from the Letters (1)
Alexander Ingrassia
For a mini-lesson in the construction of history compare the essays by Heymann and Ingrassia on the same subject and drawing on the same pool of sources.
[1] Thomas Jefferson surpasses the vast majority of plantation owners of the 19th century in a multitude of fashions. He is lauded in the accounts of his slaves Israel and Isaac as a benevolent man. His views on slavery fundamentally differ greatly from the common slave master. Throughout his writings his fervent dislike of the institution is apparent. While it may seem contradictory for a plantation owner to take the abolitionist approach, Jefferson showed his slaves compassion and understanding. However, his benevolence is not as honorable as his slaves believe. In his letters to his colleagues, Jefferson speaks of creating an environment that is humane for his slaves; however, their monetary use is Jefferson's priority. His altruism creates an atmosphere of trust; however his own words unearth his ulterior motives. Throughout his letters, it is clear that profit is Jefferson's foremost concern. His near obsession with monetary issues overtakes his compassion, revealing him as a normal slave master.
[2] Many transactions between Jefferson and his contemporaries exemplify Jefferson's genuine nature. In a letter to Nicholas Lewis, for instance, Jefferson states, "The negroes too old to be hired, could they not make a good profit by cultivating cotton?" (Lewis 7/11/88) Jefferson exhibits strategy with all of his resources to aid in the process of removing his debts and creating a profitable plantation. Jefferson's strategies are well planned and well thought out. In a letter to John Eppes, Jefferson writes, "I know no error more consuming to an estate than that of stocking farms with men almost exclusively. I consider a woman who brings a child every two years as more profitable than the best man of the farm what she produces is an addition to the capital, while his labors disappear in mere consumption" (8/25/20). Jefferson bought his women slaves for the exclusive purpose of reproducing and creating an infinite matrix for profit. In a letter to another colleague, Joel Yancey, Jefferson states:
Accordingly the death's among the grown ones seems ascribable to natural causes. But the loss of 5. Little ones in 4 years induces me to fear that the overseers do not permit the women to devote as much time as is necessary to the care of their children; that they view their labor as the 1st object and the raising their child but as secondary. I consider the labor of a breeding woman as no object, and that a child raised every 2. Years is of more profit than the crop of the best laboring man. In this, as in all other cases, providence has made our interests & our duties coincide perfectly. women too are destroyed by exposure to wet at certain periodical indispositions to which nature has subjected them. With respect therefore to our women & their children I must pray you to inculcate upon the overseers that it is not their labor, but their increase which is the first consideration with us. (1/17/19)
The deaths of his slaves concern Jefferson greatly, but the deaths of the slaves' children are his principle concern. Every slave child is another source of money to Jefferson. His debts are a principle subject in a majority of his letters to his colleagues. Since each child born is a free endeavor for Jefferson, accompanied with the bonus of no cost, each slave child is also a potential exponential profit margin. Thus, the value of every slave born is infinite to a financial mind such as Jefferson's.
[3] Jefferson's letters and advertisements also reveal his genuine nature as a slave master. A slave ran away from Jefferson's plantation, so Jefferson put out an advertisement that said:
Run away from the subscriber in Albemarle, a Mulatto slave called Sandy, about 35 years of age, his stature is rather low, inclining to corpulence, and his complexion light; he is a shoemaker by trade, in which he uses his left hand principally, can do coarse carpenters work, and is something of a horse jockey; he is greatly addicted to drink, and when drunk he is insolent and disorderly, in his conversation he swears much, and his behavior is artful and knavish. He took with him a white horse, much scarred with traces, of which it is expected he will endeavour to dispose; he also carried his shoemaker tools, and he will probably endeavour to get employment that way. Whoever conveys the said slave to me in Albemarle, shall have 40 s. reward, if taken up within the county, 4 l. if elsewhere within the colony, and 10 l (9/7/69)
The slaves at Monticello have no perception of the activity that occurs outside of the plantation. This creates a barrier of ignorance between slave master and slave. A slave by the name of James Hubbard escaped from Jefferson's plantation. Jefferson took the approach of sending letters to his colleagues on his route to track him down. By using his friends, Jefferson tracked down James as discretely as possible without using public advertisement. When brought back, Jefferson wrote to his colleague Reuben Perry, stating, "In reference to a recaptured runaway slave by the name of James Hubbard: I had him severely flogged in the presence of his old companions, and committed to jail where he now awaits your arrival. the course he has been in, and all circumstances convince me he will never again serve any man as a slave, the moment he is out of jail and his irons off he will be off himself. It will therefore unquestionably be best for you to sell him" (4/16/12). This letter contradicts all the accounts of his slaves and staff. This slave's misdeed is treated with no compassion but a flogging. Along with that, Jefferson dismisses the boy as a slave forever and requests that he be sold immediately. One of Jefferson's overseers fondly remembers an instance where a slave stole nails and Jefferson pardoned the boy because a lesson had been learned. There is no such compassion used in this instance.
[4] From his slaves' accounts Jefferson is perceived as a genuinely kindhearted man who only cares about his slaves' well being, but from his own accounts profit is his sincere value. Jefferson's constant need for capital led him to create an environment in which his slaves could breed and thrive. Was his relationship with Sally Hemings another venture to create profit? Did Thomas Jefferson have children with Sally for money, or was it for love? Is our third president an insatiable money-monger or a man trying to replace his one true love? Jefferson's constant need for money seems to reveal his intentions -- money -- but is this fact or speculation?
