But I can’t take you now because you are contraband of war and not American citizens yet. But hold on to your society and there may be a chance for you.”
This quote shows the state African Americans were in, where even when they escaped slavery down in the south they were still not considered American citizens but instead contraband or property of war, it also highlights how Abraham Lincoln navigated through this carefully with his words “ right now you are contraband and not yet American citizens” and “ hold on to your society they may be chance a for you”. He doesnt make his complete agenda clear and I guess keeps things fair on both sides, he does this by referring to escaped slaves as contraband but also acknowledging that they’re time for freedom may come soon. This was important because some border states could’ve easily turned and joined the south had he moved too fast on slavery.