I will say then that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races - that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of making voters or jurors of Negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality. And in as much as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race.[16]
Let's back up here for a moment. You said Lincoln was for slavery before he was against it. Like Davis and Lee, Lincoln's position on slavery never wavered. But unlike Davis and Lee who approved of the institution, Lincoln was opposed to slavery his whole life, and I'd be very interested in seeing your evidence supporting your claim to the contrary.