Lincoln and his 'Henry Clay politics' at it's finest.
Lincoln never said that. But the Lost Cause brigade have never let the truth stand in the way of a good Southron myth.
In Saving the Union, I have destroyed the Republic, before me have I the Confederacy wich I loathe, but behind me have I the bankers wich I fear
I can’t find any citation for that alleged quote, I doubt if Lincoln would ever say that. The Republican/Whig Party at that time was basically a tool of the Northern Banks and Industials.