The term "Antebellum South" defines the entire society on the basis of slavery, which would ignore the statesmen, writers, soldiers, etc., who were also part of that society.
It would make as little sense to dismiss Lincoln, Hawthorne, Thoreau, etc., and the entire northern society, on the basis of maltreatment of northern industrial workers.
There is much to praise, and much to criticize, in both societies.
The discussions, however, tend to run to the ridiculous. Anything at all said in praise of southern society or politics draws an irate "You are pro-slavery!".... which I've never in my life ever encountered anyone who was pro-slavery....
So, if someone praises Lincoln, the logical counterpart argument would be; "You're in favor of child labor!" Likewise, I've never in my life ever encountered anyone who was pro-child labor.
But one never seems to hear that retort from southerners, usually because southerners tend to be more thoughtful, and have endured a century of such idiocy that they've grown weary of it.
Abraham Lincoln was a good man, and Jefferson Davis was a good man. Both of them were quite intelligent, and I'm sure both of them understood their respective societies had ills that needed addressing.
