American History

Robert Newsom successfully represented the Jeffersonian ideal of the yeoman farmers of the West since he did not show any cruelty to his slaves. Since he also comes from a small farmer, he did not exhibit the common characteristics of the slave owners such as being cruel and unfair to them. For instance, on the case of Celia, he indeed showed mercy and love to the poor slave although he has the motive of making the slave as his wife.

Ownership of slavery became the means of economic success of the farmers in Missouri since the slaves are working for the progress of their farm. For instance, since Robert Newsom has several slaves who are helping and working in his farm, the progress of his farm became abrupt.

Robert Newsom purchased Celia not only because he wanted her to become his slave and help his daughters in the household chores. Newsom purchased Celia because he wanted to have a sexual relationship with the girl since his wife had already passed away. Newsom took the advantage as being Celias master so that he can realize his real motive to Celia.

George is the secret lover of Celia. Since George has a relationship with Celia, there is a big possibility that he has participation in the murder of Newsom. Maybe he killed Newsom because he wanted to be the only lover of Celia. And considering the health condition of Celia during the murder of Newsom, it is surely that Celia had an apprentice in doing the crime. George is the only person who can have the motive of killing Newsom since he has also relationship with Celia.

When Celia found out that she is tired of the relationship with Newsom, she talked to the daughters of her master and threatened them that she would hurt Newsom if he will not stop his relationship with her. But her act did not become successful since Newsom did not stop his affair with Celia which in the end became the cause of his death.

The death of Celia caused great fear to the other slaves about doing rebellion or any violent act to their masters. The publication of the newspaper became a good means to bring to the knowledge of all people about the fate of Celia who became a rebel to his master. Likewise, people are also threatened on the possibility of slaves rebellion and conspiracy against their masters which will surely lead to great bloodshed.

Since people would not want to show injustice and prejudice to the slaves, the people who are assigned to defend Celia indeed treated her well. In fact, they helped Celia to escape just to delay her execution.

Through the trial and execution of Celia, it was proven that during the battle between a master and a slave, the former will always win. Celia could have been spared on the case if they had considered that her act was only a self defense on the physical harassment done by Newsom. Another argument is that if and only if they had considered the health condition of Celia, she could have been freed from the case.

On the part of the slave owners, the story shows that even if you are so kind to the people, there will be still person who will make you bad things. Newsom had been good to Celia but Celia chose to kill him because of her affair to George.

What have done by Newsom could be considered as a trespassing since Celia informed him that she does not like to have sexual relationship with him anymore. But the law system cannot accept that reason because Celia is a slave of Newsom. He cannot be considered to be a trespasser since he owns the house and he also owns Celia ah his slave.

In every battle, the one who is indigent, weak and not influential is the one who always loses the fight. Celia could have a valid reason of killing Newsom but it was not heard in the court.
Why George was not convicted and executed Why it is Celia who paid for all the crime By analyzing the situation, it is indeed not convincing that Celia is the only one who committed the crime. But she is the only one who paid for everything.