It may have not made sense for them (the Black people) per se but it made perfect sense for the Whites to want to do it to eliminate the problem.
What actually happened, reconstruction ended, Blacks remaining second class citizens and poor, was lousy and we still live with the consequences. I reject that that was the best option, I would have advocated something else, be it forced emigration (whether they or anyone in Africa liked it or not) or a second war to teach the former Confederates that the new Constitutional amendments weren’t optional (I know Notherners weren’t kind to Blacks either but it’s wasn’t there fault slaves were here) or Indian-style reservations in the Dakotas or something.
I agree: Eliminating the problem is/was the most important consideration.
To quote Jack Nicholson from “Batman”: “You can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs.”
And another saying enters the conversation here: “You don’t have to go home, you just can’t stay here.”
#GetoutgettheHellout