Virtuous Yeoman Own Slaves

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Thomas Jefferson, a former president’s, statement in Query XIX about his admiration of the Yeoman farmer was hypocritical. Jefferson declared that “venality suffocates the germ of virtue” (QUERY XIX). Work motivated by trade and profit is not a righteous practice. Although he claimed to value a life of self-sufficiency, Jefferson owned substantial amounts of slaves in his lifetime. In this case, contradicts the claim that one should provide for themselves. Jefferson also insincerely stated that “Those who labour in the earth are the chosen people of God,” however the hundreds of slaves under Jefferson’s supremacy certainly were not treated that way (QUERY XIX). Should a virtuous Yeoman own slaves? Slave-ownership would go against the tenement