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, many of them, by living among us, while ours
suffer from your presence. In a word we suffer on each side. If this
is admitted it affords a reason why we should be separated. If we deal
with those who are not free at the beginning and whose intellects are
clouded by slavery we have very poor material to start with. If
intelligent colored men, such as are before me, would move in this
matter much might be accomplished. It is exceedingly important that we
have men at the beginning capable of thinking as white men and not
those who have been syst