Acktchually, Lincoln had his secretary try to find somewhere to send them to, the slaves. Including islands. He did not believe in slavery, but he also knew blacks and whites were not compatible. He didn't free them with the ides for them to stay here. And he was right. To this day, they are a parallel society, refusing to assimilate.

Edit : and it wasn't an afterthought. They were Integral to the south's war effort and withoit them, the south couldn't fight. It was a strategic military decision made during a war for the purposes of it

Acktchually, Lincoln had his secretary try to find somewhere to send them to, the slaves. Including islands. He did not believe in slavery, but he also knew blacks and whites were not compatible. He didn't free them with the ides for them to stay here. And he was right. To this day, they are a parallel society, refusing to assimilate.