To all you rewriters of intent, I say these things:
Abe Lincoln's idea was to free the slaves and give them a better life. In the process he became the father of the Republican party. Mr. Lincoln believed Negroes were people, but would never be part of the real working world. They would always be second class, at best. But, they should not be hated or mistreated.
More or less, I have found these same ideas stated by President US Grant, President Harry Truman, and President Lyndon Johnson. The fact that these men believed the Negroes should not have to live in fear of being lynched, castrated, or raped made them great liberal thinkers. But, in their times they were disliked by many, for these beliefs.
So today, revisionist thinkers want to rewrite history and condemn these men that allowed Negroes out of the cotton patch. These men elevated the Negroes status, to second class. This improved status brings us to today. And today, old black women, can ride in the front of the bus. And young black men, can run for the Presidency.
God bless Abraham Lincoln.