They had no problems denying it to slaves, either. And much of the holdup for adding new states to the US in the first half of the 19th century was the politica

They had no problems denying it to slaves, either. And much of the holdup for adding new states to the US in the first half of the 19th century was the political question "will it tip the balance in favor of slave states or free states?" It was easiest to admit two at a time, one slave state, one free state, so that states could be admitted without political controversy.