In Their Own Words: Thomas Jefferson

Thomas JeffersonBorn April 13, 1743, Thomas Jefferson was an American Founding Father and the author of the Declaration of Independence. Additionally, he served as the second vice president of the United States during the presidency of John Adams, and from 1801 to 1809, served as the country's third president. In 1821, Jefferson published his autobiography which focused on the struggles and achievements he experienced and also provided insight into people, politics, and events from his life time. Also included were some of his thoughts on slavery and emancipation. While Jefferson owned and sold slaves during his lifetime, he believed that freedom for slaves was inevitable, though how that emanicpation would be reached was not clear.

"Nothing is more certainly written in the book of fate, than that these people are to be free; nor is it less certain that the two races, equally free, cannot live in the same government."
(The first half of that sentence is inserted on the wall of the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, but the last half of the sentence is omitted - with or without reason.) Mr. Jefferson then added: 
"Nature, habit, opinion have drawn indelible lines of distinction between them . . . " (See p. 49, vol. I, Jefferson's Complete Works, 1853.)