Emancipation
Hofstadter affirms, “Of course, voluntary emancipation was out of the question. To understand the mind of the Old South it is necessary to realize that emancipation meant not merely the replacement of slave labour by hired labor, but the loss of white supremacy, the overthrow of the caste system-in brief, the end of a civilization.” The South opposed emancipation for it would presumably not be economically feasible. Hired labor would compel the former slave owners to pay hired blacks and this would lower their profits. Moreover, the payment of blacks would imperil the whites for they would not treat them as slaves anymore.
Jefferson (Myth)
Hofstadter writes, “Jefferson has been pictured as a militant, crusading democrat, a Physiocrat who repudiated acquisitive capitalistic economies, a revolutionist who tore up the social fabric of Virginia in 1776, and the sponsor of a “Revolution of 1800” which destroyed Federalism root and branch.” The prominent myth regarding Jefferson portrays him in a positive light. It conceals his inherent flaws to portray him as a remarkable leader. The embellishment of the myth underscores the flaws of historical records considering that some scholars have refuted it.
Government
Hofstadter explains, “Government, thought the Fathers, is based on property. Men who have no property lack the necessary stake in an orderly society to make stable or reliable citizens…Basis for the constitution whereby “ Influence in government would be proportionate to property :merchants and great landholders would be dominant, but small property-owners would have an independent and far from negligible voice.” Property ownership is the key determinant of governance. Possession of property increases one’s power and chances of influencing government policies. Individuals without property are not influential in government for they do not have any resources which would amplify their power. Accordingly, the Fathers deemed property to be equivalent to government.
“Lincoln’s Trip”
Hofstadter reports, "According to John Hanks, when Lincoln went with his companions to a slave market they saw a handsome mulatto girl being sold on the block, and "The iron entered his soul": he swore that if he ever got a chance he would hit slavery "and hit it hard." The implication is clear: Lincoln was half abolitionist and the Emancipation Proclamation was a fulfillment of that young promise. But the authenticity of the tale is suspect among Lincoln scholars." Even though the account is not verified, it depicts the emotional impact which Lincoln experienced at the slave market. The mulatto girl evokes Lincoln's pathos because she is dehumanized and commoditized. The iron is indicative of the pity which Lincoln felt after witnessing the reality of slavery.
