[morphing libertarian]

regardless of what Jefferson did or owned and Lincoln’s motivation, the declaration says all men are created equal and endowed by their creator with inalienable right to liberty

Those of you who say somewhere in there it says EXCEPT slaves” is beyond me. Not following up does not erase the language.

[DiogenesLamp]

regardless of what Jefferson did or owned and Lincoln’s motivation, the declaration says all men are created equal and endowed by their creator with inalienable right to liberty

To hear some of you speak of it, that's the only D@mned thing it does say.

Lost on you is the fact that it didn't have a D@mn thing to do with slaves. It's ENTIRE purpose was to make the case for why the States should be free from the Union. (United Kingdom.)

Those of you who say somewhere in there it says EXCEPT slaves” is beyond me. Not following up does not erase the language.

If it were intended to mean that, Jefferson would have freed his slaves. All 13 slave states would have freed theirs. If you think they meant for it to apply to slaves, you are lying to yourself.