[rockrr]

Clearly Thomas Jefferson was the single, outspoken advocate of the elimination of the slave trade, when others would not risk taking that position.

Clearly history does not agree with your hagiographic assessment or history would be more pronounced in their regard for Jefferson's attitudes towards The Particular Institution. As it is, historic references to Jefferson's regard for blacks in general or slaves in particular was that "his views on slavery appeared to change throughout his life".

I thought it interesting that your reference to Franklin was "Benjamin Franklin (slave owner)". This reveals much about your bias since while it is true that Franklin was a slave-owner (two slaves) it doesn't commonly come up in descriptions of him like it does Jefferson. You do recognize a difference between 2 slaves and hundreds of slaves, right?

Sorry but your glowing appraisal of Jefferson's enlightened attitudes towards race relations doesn't pass the sniff test. But It's OK - he was still a cool dude.

[PeaRidge]

So your headline from the convention would have read:

“Flash.

“Founding Father Jefferson First to Unilaterally Denounce Slavery but Witnesses Say This Was Not Important Since He Owned Slaves.

Another Delegate and Slave owner Franklin Dubbed Respectful Because He Does Not Own That Many.”