[miss marmelstein]

We have plenty of south-haters right here on this thread to allow at least one Lincoln hater. Some of our southern freepers had family who fought in that war and want to honor their sacrifices. I respect that.

[DiogenesLamp]

I don't hate Lincoln. I grew up admiring him and i've read quite a lot of his history and writing. I have just realized in the last few years that he was the wrong man at the wrong place in history. He had stirred up too much anger and concern through his rhetoric.

Had he not tricked the nomination away from Seward, a President Seward likely wouldn't have triggered either a secession or a civil war.

Lincoln was like an intelligent Bernie Sanders of his day; Too far out liberal to win acceptance by people who saw him as a potential threat to their status quo. Seward would have likely been tolerable by the South, especially if he expressed interest in their concerns and tamped down the rhetoric that they were evil people.