Just to be clear, you're talking about Lincoln's intentions for occupation during the war's aftermath, right? Lincoln was assassinated less than a week after Lee's surrender at Appomattox, after all.

Abraham Lincoln had nothing to do with Reconstruction at all since he Was assassinated shortly after Appomattox in 1865. He was also not considered Southern but considered from Illinois, though he was born in Kentucky which was a slave holding state, Kentucky also remained with the Union during the war. Andrew Johnson from North Carolina and a Democrat became the President of the United States and it is widely believed he was "soft" on the south due to identifying as a southerner himself. Johnson was chosen by Lincoln as a running mate because he was a Southern Unionist. During reconstruction Johnson came into conflict with congress. Johnson endorsed the quick re-admission of the Southern secessionist states which was in contrast to the beliefs of the two thirds Republican majority in Congress. He opposed the 14th amendment that gave citizenship to African-Americans, Congress refused to seat representatives from states that issued "black Codes" that denied rights to African-Americans and passed bills to override southern actions but Johnson vetoed their bills. In 1867 Congress passed the Tenure of Office Act to prevent Johnson from removing individuals from office. When he tried to remove the the Secretary of war he was impeached by Congress but they fell short of one vote to remove him from office.

Because he wanted to avoid conflict, and reunite the country, a heavy handed occupation doesn't win hearts and minds.

And all though he was born in Kentucky, I'd doubt he'd see him self as a southerner