So yeah, sometimes words mean what they say, but not in this case.
A more realistic interpretation than believing 13 slave owning states were objecting to slavery, while continuing to profit from it.
People who think 13 slave owning states would be denouncing slavery while continuing to profit from it are wishfully thinking.
"All men are created equal" was intended to refer to themselves. It wasn't until later that more people started seeing it as referring to the slaves.
This is a realistic interpretation.