On this day we celebrate the founding of this country and the Declaration of Independence, it is helpful to note the original intention of Jefferson in writing this seminal thesis on the American vision of freedom and governance. Particularly at a time when many currently in power believe this nation to be a nation founded in racism and bigotry.
The Founders fully intended to abolish slavery with Jefferson explicitly calling slavery "execrable commerce." Jefferson and the majority of the Founders believed that ALL men are created equal and his original version is even more clear on that point than the final document itself. The section in question was removed for strategic, political reasons and nothing more. They removed it in order to gain approval of the Declaration from those representatives whose states depended on slavery. However, it was always understood that the issue of slavery would be revisited and corrected at a later time.
It is up to those of us who still love this country and hold to the precepts enumerated in this Divinely inspired document to remind our friends and neighbors of what this day and this document truly stand for and defend it from those who wish to reinterpret history to suit their own political and personal ambitions.
That's probably why he so enjoyed the privileges of owning them.
Jefferson was unhappy with the work done by the Congress to change his words, but the editing sharpened the focus and elided certain issues that would have killed the document outright. Jefferson was not the only skilled wordsmith there, and we benefited from that.