Why Did the Supreme Court Rule in the Late Nineteenth

Why did the Supreme Court rule in the late nineteenth century that the Fourteenth Amendment did not immediately guarantee all citizens protection under national law?

A) Because the Court ruled that slaves were considered property.
B) Because the Court ruled that equal protection under the law was at odds with other sections of the Constitution.
C) Because the Court ruled that equal protection under the law only applied to national government actions.
D) Because the Court ruled that states had no responsibility to follow national law.
E) Because the Court ruled that equality was a concept at odds with the principles and beliefs of the Founders.