Why did US President Lincoln meet with a leading group of former slaves and Afro-Americans from the North?

Answer 1

In mid-August of 1862 US President Lincoln meets with a group of leading former slaves and free Afro-Americans in Washington DC. Lincoln urges this group to consider his plan for sending freed salves and Northern Blacks to a colony. Colonization of former slaves to Africa is still part of Lincoln's plans to help solve the slavery problem. He believes that Blacks will be better off ruling themselves in a colony. He does not mention his emancipation plans.

Answer 2

Using the terminology of the 1860's President Lincoln meets with a "Deputation of Negroes" to persuade them to sign on to his plan of colonizing free Blacks somewhere in tropical South America. Quite tersely and coldly he declared that the racial differences between Blacks and Whites was deeper than between any other pair of races. Lincoln declared that the health of both races required their permanent separation. Lincoln believed that if Blacks sought equality within the USA, rather than taking his offer of relocation was "selfish".