Jeffersons Notes on the Virginia State - Research Paper Example

Module Module ID: Jefferson’ s on the Virginia It has aptly been argued that Jefferson’s Notes on the Virginia State illustrate the contradictions of the Enlightenment and the idea of America in their nature and scope. It is partly due to the very reality that Jefferson, as his writings depict, never aim to announce unconditional freedom to the black slaves, leading a life of misery and humiliation in the US soil, far from their indigenous motherland. Thomas Jefferson, according to Halliday (2002), pretends at the same time to be a loyal and committed representative of the state and the white Anglo Saxon population (WASP), and simultaneously claims to be the benefactor of the African community, serving their white masters as slaves (31). The critics aptly allude to the army of slaves Jefferson had kept, and never meant to set them free for leading the life of their choice. Instead, he is aptly blamed of developing sexual relationships with one of his maid slaves Sally Hemings (Halliday 87), with whom, he had five children. Not only this that Jefferson kept the slaves in his possession till death, but also released just few male slaves, two of them were the real brothers of his mistress Sally. As a result, he exploited the slogan of the abolition of slavery just for capturing the attention of the American masses that appeared to be making demands for kicking out the black community from the American soil, and subsequently applying banishment on their re-entry as well as slave trade altogether (162). Thus, Jefferson also banned the freed blacks from Virginia, and would not permit their entry in the state at any cost. The author also elucidates various aspects of his life, where it becomes evident that Jefferson had been fond of dominating over others by capturing the attraction of the people since his childhood. It was the same ambitious nature and writing skills, which turned out to be highly supportive in respect of earning sound reputation and honor of drafting the Declaration of Independence for the then recently liberated country and present day super power i.e. America. Although he raised a sonorous voice against the injustices being committed by the white masters against the black slaves, yet he did not provide an open support to the slave cause. However, he practiced kindness and observed leniency towards the slaves under his possession (Brodie 1999). His profound care towards the slaves was the reflection of his faith in Christianity, which strongly preaches meekness, humility and benevolence towards others, and forbids the humans from observing pride, envy and wickedness towards others (Halliday 55). However, he could not be stated to be an orthodox Christian in the real sense of the world. On the contrary, it was actually the reflection of his brought up and socializing that turned him a supporter for the cause of freedom and humanity (Brodie 49). Jefferson, in his political views and opinions, was a follower of liberal and secular thought, though it does not make him non-Christian altogether. Rather, by faith, he was Christian, though maintained very liberal ideas about other people. Hence, he did not aim to implement his personal will upon the others without their free consent and approval. It is therefore, he appears to be advocating the separation of church from administrative affairs of government, where the religion would be a private matter of the people (Brodie 206). Since Jefferson was the torch-bearer of the freedom of thought and action, and did not allow any interference in the personal affairs of the individuals, he applied and enforced the same policy by defining and determining the boundary lines of the Virginia State while his stay over there as the administrator and governor (Halliday 151). While discussing Jefferson’s religious ideology, Stanford (2007) asserts that the former US President as well as main drafter of the Declaration of Independence observed enlightenment in his life, which reflects in each and every word of the DOI. Since the writings serve as the manifestation of the inner of a person, the DOI demonstrates how compassionate his feelings had been to see the masses flourishing and rendering services to their country as one united nation, without taking their religious, regional, ethno-racial, and class differences into the slightest considerations at all. Thus, such courageous remarks could only be made by a dauntless and devoted leader like Thomas Jefferson. The allegations of hypocrisy, leveled against Jefferson, while his handling the cause of slavery has strongly been condemned by many critics; as Post (2004) states that his commitment with the cause could be endorsed by looking into his will, where he had made it clear that all his slaves would enjoy freedom after his death, and he would not inherit an evil to his children. The delay in announcing the same was actually due to the social pressure on him, where an overwhelming majority of the white population could stand against him as protest, which would certainly put his political career into grave jeopardy. In addition, his slaves had strong association with him, and found them financial secure in his service. It is therefore he delayed their release till he gives up his ghost (Post 47). Jefferson once wrote in his Notes on Virginia state that since all humans are born equal, and it is quite humiliating to find some of them in the service of others as slaves; nevertheless, it does not mean that all humans could enjoy one and the same role and status within a social or political establishment. On the other hand, since no one in a social hierarchy could solely take and accomplish every kind of obligations and responsibilities altogether (Macionis 2007). It is therefore some of the individuals work at higher positions like statesmen, lawyers, writers, professors, doctors and entrepreneurs, while some of them work as peasants, laborers, workers, masons, cobblers and servants etc. Nevertheless, no job or work makes a person respectable or disrespectful in society (Ritzer 2003), and only criminals, offenders, prostitutes and beggars could be declared as condemnable acts, performing of which brings insult, displeasure and humiliation in the eyes of society. It is therefore declaring Jefferson as the traitor of slave cause is absolutely null and void, as he could not obtains significant consent of the white masters in respect of the freedom of black slaves throughout his life, till his successor Abraham Lincoln observed the same by 1862 by declaring him to be one of the followers and admirers of Thomas Jefferson (Cohen 2001). Since every leader has to undergo some political and social pressure from the masses and opponents as well, which keep him away from introducing a controversial policy, and implanting the same; the same was the case with Jefferson, who had to tolerate opposition made by his political rivals particularly John Marshall and others, who did not leave any stone unturned in opposing Jefferson in all policies at large (Jefferson 2006). It is therefore he could not take decisive step in respect of the abolishment of slavery from his fatherland. One of the most controversial acts, executed by Jefferson, included his unflinching opposition to the manumission law, which had been drafted and presented, according to Merkel (2008), by the legislators in the assembly of the Virginia state. Somehow, Jefferson turned many legislators to his side, which stopped it from obtaining the status of a bill eventually. It not only proved him to be the representative of the elite stratum of society, but also created doubts regarding his dedication and commitment to the cause of slavery. The same has also been elaborated by Peterson (2000), who submits to state that keeping hundreds of male and female slaves in his large estate should not have made big claims of fighting for the cause of justice, equality and liberty altogether. Hence, he has incorrectly and exaggerating way been portrayed to be the benefactor slaves as well as the champion of human rights (Peterson 79). Works Cited Brodie, McKay. “Thomas Jefferson: An Intimate History” W.W. Norton 1999 Print Cohen, William Thomas Jefferson and the Problem of Slavery 2001 Retrieved from Accessed on 11-26-2012 Halliday, E. M. “Understanding Thomas Jefferson” Harper Collins NY 2002 Print Jefferson, Thomas “Notes on the State of Virginia” J.W. Randolph 1853/2006 Macionis, John J. “Sociology” Eleventh Edition Pearson Prentice Hall Inc. 2007 Merkel, William G. “Jefferson's Failed Anti-Slavery Proviso of 1784 and the Nascence of Free Soil Constitutionalism” Seton Hall Law Review, Vol. 38, No. 2, 2008 Print Peterson, Merrill D. “The Jefferson Image in the American Mind” Chicago University Press 2000 Print Post, David G. “Words Fitly Spoken”: Thomas Jefferson, Slavery, and Sally Hemings Temple School of Law Retrieved from Accessed on 11-26-2012 Ritzer, George. “Modern Sociological Theory” 3rd Edition McGraw-Hill Higher Education 2007 Print Sanford, Charles. “The Religious Life of Thomas Jefferson” University of Virginia Press 2007 Print Read More