But he hated letting people out from under his control even more. He was willing to tolerate the former indefinitely, so long as he didn't have to tolerate the latter.
DiogenesLamp: "But he hated letting people out from under his control even more."
On Handy Dandy's point: certainly Lincoln was the first openly anti-slavery president ever elected.
It is the root-cause reason Deep South Fire Eaters declared secession.
On DiogenesLamp's point: Lincoln was no more nor less devoted to the Constitution than any previous President.
Going all the way back to George Washington response to the 1791-1794 Whiskey Rebellion, every President responded appropriately when faced with rebellion, insurrection, invasion & treason.