[DiogenesLamp]

He also appointed his most ardent political enemy as Secretary of War. When asked why he answered, “because he was the best man for the job.” Eventually they became good friends.

I have learned to look for underhanded motives regarding Lincoln. Putting your political enemies into positions of power beneath you, is one sure way to keep an eye on them, and somewhat control what they do.

William Seward was set to win the Republican nomination in 1860. Lincoln bused in (the way liberal democrats bus in people today) thousands of supporters to disrupt the convention, and sow chaos. After throwing the convention into upheaval, Lincoln's agents started bribing the delegates with promises of government jobs, threats, and anything else they could think of.

Lincoln won on the third ballot, and Seward was bribed with a prominent government position.

Lincoln routinely bribed people by offering them government positions or appointments. When he picked Edwin Stanton for the War Department, it was probably a bribe.

Lincoln was a wheeler dealer.

[BroJoeK]

DiogenesLamp: "I have learned to look for underhanded motives regarding Lincoln."

You have fanaticized those all by your little self, and for what good reason?
Self-amusement is the only thing I can imagine.

DiogenesLamp: "William Seward was set to win the Republican nomination in 1860.
Lincoln bused in (the way liberal democrats bus in people today) thousands of supporters to disrupt the convention, and sow chaos"

More fantasy on which DiogenesLamp has already been corrected, at least once.
It was not Illinoisan Lincoln, it was New Yorker Seward who "bused in" his supporters to the 1860 Chicago Republican convention.

"In the mid-nineteenth century, it was not considered proper for the aspiring candidate to go to the convention himself, so Seward sent his political manager, Thurlow Weed, along with his states’ 70 delegates and 13 railroad cars of supporters."

Lincoln was from Illinois and his supporters lived in Chicago, so they walked to their convention, no need to "bus" anyone.

DiogenesLamp: "After throwing the convention into upheaval, Lincoln's agents started bribing the delegates with promises of government jobs, threats, and anything else they could think of. "

The Republican convention was in no sense in "upheaval".
Upheaval is what Deep South Fire Eaters did to their own Democrat convention in Charleston, when they walked out, split their party and refused to support its nominee -- Senator Douglas.

By stark contrast, Republican Chicago was simple politics as usual, then as now.
But Lincoln himself, who was not at the convention, was clear in instructions to his supporters:

"I authorize no bargains and will be bound by none".[8]

DiogenesLamp: "Lincoln was a wheeler dealer."

Politics, the the art of the deal.
Here's a book by someone who can explain how to do it.