[jeffersondem]

“Many of the men we admire are coated in marble. we refuse to see the living breathing human being under the marble.
When facts are presented to the contrary, we recoil in horror. A good example from some years back, was the fact that R.E.Lee had a couple of recalcitrant slave whipped for their insubordination. Eye witness accounts and a bill paid to the Sheriff that whipped the slaves was insufficient to sway the true Lee loyalists from their view that Lee was a perfect example of Nobility and Humanity.”

By Lee's own written accounts, he was a sinner redeemed by a loving God. As for the supposed eye witness accounts to slave punishment, Lincoln must have considered them before offering Lee command of Union forces. This says something good about Lee; or something bad about Lincoln.

From the Bret Kavanaugh hearings, we are reminded that it is not always possible to learn the truth from just a tearful one-sided “eye-witness” story of this-monster-did-that-to-me.

If there is a copy of a bill paid to the Sheriff for slave whipping services I'd like to see it. I'd like to see the purchase order too.

[Bull Snipe]

Why should Lincoln consider give that any thought. Several Generals in the Federal Army owned or had owned slaves during there term of service, it was not against the law. Whipping a slave was legal in the eyes of Virginia law. It was an acceptable form of corporal punishment. Lee was in a position to have such punishment carried out. Why would having a couple of recalcitrant runaway slaves whipped be out of the realm for Lee to do. He had many men in the Army of Northern Virginia shot for the exactly same offence, running away.