Lincoln as a State Representative voted to prevent blacks from owning land, businesses, or residences in Illinois. Lincoln, like Horace Greeley, saw the west as a pristine land for the white man exclusively. No blacks need apply. Try to forget the 50 years of Hollywood propaganda regarding the War.
“I will say, then, that I am not, nor have ever been in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races ... I am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race.” -— Abraham Lincoln
When was that? What bill?
Lincoln, like Horace Greeley, saw the west as a pristine land for the white man exclusively. No blacks need apply.
And the opposite position taken by the Southerners was that blacks were free to flock to the territories...if and only if they were someone's property. Lincoln was dedicated to keeping the territories slave free. Southerners were dedicated to making them slave. Simple as that