Podcast
Behind the Bastards
The book is about Cato the Elder, a figure that Jefferson greatly admired and whose views on slavery are discussed.
A slave of his was expected to either be busy about the house or to be asleep, and he was very partial to the sleepy ones.
— Episode: Part One: Thomas Jefferson: King of Hypo...
Episode: Part One: Thomas Jefferson: King of Hypocrites
The book is about Cato the Elder, a figure that Jefferson greatly admired and whose views on slavery are discussed.
A slave of his was expected to either be busy about the house or to be asleep, and he was very partial to the sleepy ones.
He thought these gentler than the wakeful ones and those who had enjoyed the gift of sleep were better for any kind of service than those who lacked it.
In the belief that his slaves were led into most mischief by their sexual passions, he stipulated that males should consort with the females at a fixed price but should never approach any other woman.
At the outset, when he was still poor and in military service, he found no fault at all with what was served up to him, declaring that it was shameful for a man to quarrel with the domestic over food and drink.
But afterwards, when his circumstances were improved and he used to entertain his friends and colleagues at table, no sooner was dinner over than he would flog those slaves who had been remiss at all in preparing or serving it.
He was always contriving that his slaves should have feuds and dissensions among themselves.
Harmony among them made him suspicious and fearful.