For those who are interested in the topics covered at the Symposium, read on. There were too many sessions (9) to go into detail about them, so instead I'll just give the title, faculty member, some key messages from my notes, and my quickie review. My apologies to any faculty if I got them wrong.
Violence and Justice David T. Konig (Faculty Co-director), Professor of History and Law, Washington University. Outstanding-Many interesting points: Law is about negotiating relationships-Common Law rigid based on precedents-Equity mitigates harsh law, becomes higher law-TJ believed equity enforces benevolence where our duty is to follow laws of nature-Declaration of Independence a Bill of Equity addressed to the world-TJ first to use the term "human rights" in English-sympathetic to slave revolts-violence only justified when no other remedy.
Confronting Racial Difference Clarence Walker, History Professor, University of California, Davis. Mild Q and A- TJ not a modern racist, although he believed in biological differences of races-not a reactionary, more a reformer.
Launching the Jeffersonian State Jan Lewis, History Professor, Rutgers University. Interesting-Analyzed TJ's First Inaugural Address: defined Jefferson's credo-she was greatly impressed-one of America's great documents-began uniting of nation-overturned Federalist policies.
Obligations to the Future: "the earth belongs to the living" Onuf. Fascinating- Jefferson principles=limited government+ rule of law+ majority rule-challenge to sustain the spirit of the revolution- opposition to aristocracy-nation a great family, share the land, each man becomes an aristocrat-believed in Scottish Enlightenment (power of benevolence)- moral obligation not to burden future generations with debt- better in theory than in practice- had a vision of immortality of American nation. The Unholy Alliance of Lawcraft and Priestcraft Konig. Fascinating- TJ outstanding legal scholar- read law in ancient languages- distinguished municipal law from laws of nature- restrain national debt, reduce wars- relied on reason/natural rights over English precedent/common law- opposed established church and their power to corrupt the political state.
Possible Citizens- Civilizing the Indian Walker. Stimulating- Continued discussion on race/racism/slavery/TJ, not about Indians- freed slaves end up in degraded conditions in north, slaves without masters in the south- difficult life, but more opportunity in the north- colonization movement of free slaves to Africa a reform movement- TJ had distaste for blacks body and intellect- Haiti slave revolution and Gabriel's rebellion scared whites- TJ opposed intermarriage, sought to free slaves and remove them from America- prescient about challenges of large numbers of Africans (not accepted as American citizens) in North America- represented most advanced thinking of his day and age- racial views congruent with thought of his time/place- we have benefit of hindsight- colonization failed, too expensive, too difficult- in Liberia conflict between American blacks and natives, color caste system, mulatto elite dominate- not until 14th Amendment, 1868, does America become bi-racial.
Womanhood in Europe & America: Decadence of Royalty Lewis. Mildly interesting- TJ evaluated society's treatment of women as gauge of its development- sought balance between excessive wealth/over-refinement and poverty/barbarism- between hard labor of female slaves and Indian women and idleness and decadence of French female elite.
A Blueprint for Political Society Onuf. Truly Outstanding- (Onuf at his best, no notes, passionate, humorous, and insightful- too much too summarize, but I'll try)- social systems of TJ's time based on assumption that all men are not created equal, but form a hierarchy- TJ's genius was his views on creating a natural hierarchy of family household, ward, county, state, and federal government where each level has enough power to exercise at its level and to protect the levels below- (for more we need to wait until Peter is a Guest Blogger).
The Supreme Court and the Threatened Constitution Konig. Very Informative- Explained conflict between Chief Justice John Marshall, a conservative who favored consolidating power in a strong federal government, and TJ, a progressive/liberal who favored decentralizing power and a small federal government- much of TJ's opposition to a powerful federal government based on his fear of the anti-democratic tendencies of the Federalist party, which sought control through Congress and the Federal courts.
Well, I hope that gives you an idea of some of the issues addressed at the 19th Jefferson Symposium.
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The Declaration (of Independence was) the genuine effusion of the soul of our country at that time. 1825
