Not having Lincoln elected in 1860 would have been a pretty good thing. He was the first dictator in the United States history.
But without his leadership, there would be no United States of America. The Union was falling apart over slavery and other economic and geographic divisions- secession
was going to happen; the only question was whether there would be a national leader strong enough and determined enough to prevent the country from falling apart (and being basically re-colonized by the Europeans).
Sounds like you are a devotee of Joe Sobran and Charlie Reese on this one- I'm not.