A given man should of a right, be most appropriately judged in accordance with the times of their existence on this good earth. That is to say, even the most liberal of past politicians, the most fair-minded of such, and the most astute, were they to be judged by contemporary standards, may indeed be found wanting, or insensitive, or of some degree of disappointment. So then, in true fairness to those that governed and lived within earlier times, it is best to take into full account, that modern-day standards, protocols, and expectations are probably not the most proper way to render a fair and just picture, of what and who a person really was in their own day and time.
When it comes to Lincoln, he clearly was of the persuasion that the fairest and safest way to deal with those that were enslaved or had been enslaved, was to provide for these unfortunate exploited and abused people when freed, some sort of safe sanctuary, that would be in the form of a country or a nation, that was to be completely separate from the United States. This belief, was not based out of malice, but was simply the fair reflection of Lincoln’s experience of seeing how set in their ways, those of the southern aristocratic mindset were -- about their inherent superiority to their slaves, and further their belief that no real white man of self-respect, could ever feel that a black man had any rights that a white man need ever respect; which thereby left absolutely no quarter for those of the black race; and further, signified that it was doubtful that there could ever be any future semblance of equality between black and white, or even a basic civility between such. Further to the point, those thus lacking literacy as well as monetary assets, were never going to be in a very good position, to have a safe, secure, and vibrant life, in this capitalistic nation.
Yet, when Lincoln actually released his Emancipation Proclamation, we do so find, that nary a word about colonization was contained within it; which thereby begs the point that deep within the psyche of Lincoln was the understanding that those that were brought here against their will, and further were thereby forced into enslavement, and of which the enslaved man had served his white master for two hundred and fifty years without compensation or justice -- had through their generations of unrequited toil of blood, sweat, and tears, surely earned the fair right, to call this land, their land, should they be so inclined to do so.
It takes a strong man to say and to do the right thing, especially when that man is a politician; of which, it was incumbent upon that President, to go then just far enough, but never to go too far, because the coalition of those disparate peoples so fighting for that union of States, had to stay united, so as to overcome those that had the audacity to secede from the union, as their response of having lost at the ballot box.
So then, judge Lincoln, for having been the instrument to abolish slavery, while also posthumously being the impetus to see that all people, regardless of race or servitude, were fairly entitled to life, liberty, and the equal protection of the law.