Hondo and aanfan, you are both wrong. The Republicans and Lincoln initially wanted to stop the spread of slavery into the new territories that were becoming new states. Yes their ultimate goal was abolution. The South knew that if slavery didn't spread to the new states that they would eventually lose their political clout. See Kansas/Missouri compromise. When they lost the 1860 election they wanted to take the football and go home. The rich planation owners didn't have an ounce of respect for Southern white trash.