The Journal of Negro History, Volume 4, 1919 | Page 5

in the Confederate States not only became
actually free by escape and capture but also legally free through the
operation of the confiscation acts. In this new condition, their
protection and care was to a considerable extent thrown upon the
government. To solve this problem Lincoln decided upon a plan of
compensated emancipation which would affect the liberation of slaves
in the border States, and he further considered the future of the recently
emancipated slaves and those to be freed.[8]
Taking up this question in his first annual message, he said: "It might
be well to consider, too, whether the free colored people already in the
United States could not so far as individuals may desire be included in
such colonization," (meaning the colonization of certain persons who
were held by legal claims to the labor and service of certain other
persons, and by the act of confiscating property used for insurrectory

purposes had become free, their claims being forfeited). "To carry out
the plan of colonization may involve the acquiring of territory, and also
the appropriation of money beyond that to be expended in the territorial
acquisition. Having practiced the acquisition of territory for nearly
sixty years, the question of constitutional power to do so is no longer an
open one to us.... On this whole proposition, including the
appropriation of money with the acquisition of territory, does not the
expediency amount to absolute necessity--that without which the
government itself cannot be perpetuated?"[9]
Congress responded to this recommendation in separate acts, providing
in an act, April 16, 1862, for the release of certain persons held to
service or labor in the District of Columbia, including those to be
liberated by this act, as may desire to emigrate to the Republic of Hayti
or Liberia, or such other country beyond the limits of the United States,
as the President may determine, provided the expenditure does not
exceed one hundred dollars for each immigrant.[10] The act provided
that the sum of $100,000 out of any money in the Treasury should be
expended under the direction of the President to aid the colonization
and settlement of such persons of African descent now residing in the
District of Columbia.[11] It further provided that later, on July 16, an
additional appropriation of $500,000 should be used in securing the
colonization of free persons.[12] A resolution directly authorizing the
President's participation provided "that the President is hereby
authorized to make provision for the transportation, colonization and
settlement in some tropical country beyond the limits of the United
States, of such persons of the African race, made free by the provisions
of this act, as may be willing to emigrate, having first obtained the
consent of the government of said country to their protection and
settlement within the same, with all the rights and privileges of
freemen."[13] The consent of Congress was given under protest and
opposition from some individual members. Charles Sumner in and out
of Congress attacked the plan with vigor,[14] but in spite of this
opposition the recommendation was carried.
On several occasions Lincoln seized the opportunity to present his
views and plans to visiting groups and committees. On July 16, 1862,

when the President was desirous of securing the interest of the border
State representatives in favor of compensated emancipation the plan for
colonization came to light. His appeal to these representatives was: "I
do not speak of emancipation at once but of a decision to emancipate
gradually. Room in South America for colonization can be obtained
cheaply and in abundance, and when numbers shall be large enough to
be company and encouragement to one another the freed people will
not be so reluctant to go."[15]
Again on the afternoon of August 14, 1862, the President gave an
audience to a committee of men of color at the White House. They
were introduced by Rev. J. Mitchell, Commissioner of Emigration. E.
M. Thomas, the chairman, remarked that they were there by invitation
to hear what the executive had to say to them. Having all been seated
the President informed them that a sum of money had been
appropriated by Congress and placed at his disposal for the purpose of
aiding colonization in some country, of the people, or a portion of those
of African descent, thereby making it his duty as it had been for a long
time his inclination to favor that cause. "And why," he asked, "should
the people of your race be colonized and where? Why should they
leave this country? You and we are different races. We have between
us a broader difference than exists between almost any other two races.
Whether it is right or wrong I need not discuss, but this physical
difference is a great disadvantage to us both, as I think. Your race
suffer very greatly,