To the Editor:

The wounded and disabled United States Civil War veterans who fought and won the war to free Democrats’ slaves and the veterans’ families earned their post-emancipation care by emancipating Democrats’ slaves. This care was earned not simply given. The diverse Americans who freed Democrats’ slaves included diverse races and nations. Those emancipators equitably earned their care. That us D I E, for history.

Edgar V. Tolmie

Altamont

Editor’s note: Slavery was recognized by every one of the 13 original colonies and slave ownership was widespread throughout the United States before the Civil War with slaveholders of various political affiliations including Whigs, Federalists, and Democratic-Republicans. A 2022 Washington Post analysis of congressional records found that of the 1,715 identified slaveholders in Congress, 606 were Democrats, while 481 were Republicans at some point in their careers.