Abraham's concern was more focused towards conserving the Union because he wanted to keep whites in power. He said that he did not want African Americans to hold office or to have any power.
Lincoln did not view African Americans as equal in any way. When he signed the Emancipation Proclamation, it stated that all slaves were to be freed. This did nothing though, the south had already seceded.
Lincoln wanted to preserve the Union because he did not want other countries to look at us like we were dividable, and that we were easy to break apart. By keeping us together, it showed how strong the nation was, and what it was capable of.
