A lot of slave owners were convinced that slavery was a blessing to wild Africans. I gave them a path to know Christ! They were even sometimes taught to read, but anything outside the Bible or maybe work related was usually forbidden!
Other than the over reaching central government, there’s nothing I would directly blame Lincoln for. Even government overreach is mainly due to the feds using state tax money to buy state’s enforcement. Remember the nationwide 55 mph speed limit?
Quite a few western states “enforced” it with a small fine for “Wasting Energy”!
Most of our problems arise from expansion of FDR (democratic) policies and more directly to other idiotic legislation since LBJ.
Somebody posted the most destructive Americans list earlier. I give LBJ tiptop ranking.
Reon

"Preserving the Constitution, fighting off the nibblers and chippers, even nibblers and chippers with good intentions, was once regarded by conservatives as the first duty of the citizen. It still is." � Wesley Pruden