Butler's words from 1892 are just not compelling without corroboration.
What he was saying in 1892 does not seem to be backed up in the record. I've checked several sources and there is no record of Butler meeting with Lincoln at all during 1865.
My mom has a copy of the six volume Sandburg Lincoln. I am heading up to Chattanooga this weekend. I'll see if there is anything in that regarding this.
I do see some merit to Dutch-Comfort's idea that Lincoln may have proposed to find out the logistics of moving the blacks out just to show the absurdity of the whole idea. That at least seems plausible.
What is not plausible is Butler's 1892 account of 1865 happenings --- if the idea, as you suggest, was truly to deport all blacks. Both Lincoln and Butler are strongly on the record (Lincoln moreso, so far as I have seen) as supporting more civil rights for blacks. The idea that they seriously discussed deportation is refuted by the record that we can verify.
You're big "AHA!" that you hoped to hang on president Lincoln has pretty much shriveled into nothing.
Walt
Nonsense. It is documented by one party to the conversation. That is more that your assertion that it didn't happen. It's not a case of proving a negative, it's up to you to disprove a positive.
Butler had the utmost respect for blacks, once he saw them in battle. Lincoln, even after blacks had served the Union, still wanted to continue his plans of white-separatism, repatriation and a divided continent.