Who knows what Jefferson’s motives truly were? I think he was able to write the Declaration of Independence and other flowing statements because he never once considered they applied to any but rich white men. Regarding Sally Hemings, I think he had a hard time in general with women because he had a terrible stutter. It was as simple as not wanting to be laughed at that he found a young slave girl that didn’t dare laugh and couldn’t say no.

He never denied his children (four of which lived to adulthood) because none dared challenge him, and it was a commonplace event in those times. Sally could have petitioned for her freedom in France but it wasn’t automatic, and she’d have to prevail in court against one of the most powerful men in the world. She also risked what he might do to her family back at Monticello, including selling them off throughout the country.

All we have is speculation. We don’t really know that Sally was even 14 when she went to Paris. For all of Jefferson’s meticulous record keeping there is no record of her birth and some documentation she seemed very childish when selected to go to Paris, barely more mature than Jefferson’s six-year-old daughter. There may never be better answers to your questions; then again, we didn’t always know what we know now. Take care!