Answer: It's just a tradition
Explanation: This is just a tradition that President Roosevelt started there really isn't much to it besides it is a tradition. Even Donald Trump nowadays does it and keeps the tradition going. Hope this helps. ;)
The Confiscation Acts themselves did not do much but laid the legal and social groundwork for the Emancipation Proclamation which would come in the following year.
Lincoln was able to capitalize on the reaction to the Confiscation Act to feel comfortable enough to push forward the Emancipation Proclamation, which applied to all slaves in rebel held territory.
