How did southerners see the confederacy when President Lincoln considered southern states to be rebels?

The perception of the Confederacy among Southerners during President Lincoln's time varied. Many southerners viewed the Confederacy as a legitimate political entity representing the interests and values of the Southern states. They saw it as a defensive measure to protect their rights, institutions (including slavery), and way of life in response to what they perceived as oppressive policies from the federal government. Many Southerners were fiercely loyal to the Confederate cause and saw the Confederacy as a symbol of their identity, tradition, and heritage.

However, not all Southerners shared this view. Some, known as "Unionists" or "Loyalists," opposed secession and remained loyal to the United States. They believed that the Union represented the best interests of the nation as a whole and considered the Confederacy to be a treasonous rebellion against the legitimate authority of the federal government.

President Lincoln's perspective on the Confederacy was straightforward: he viewed the Southern states in rebellion against the United States. He maintained that the Union was perpetual and indivisible, and any attempt to secede was unconstitutional and illegal. He did not recognize the Confederacy as a legitimate political entity and referred to Southerners who fought for the Confederate cause as "insurgents" or "rebels." This view was in line with the official stance of the United States government, which considered secession to be an act of treason.

It's important to note that the Civil War was a complex conflict with a variety of factors at play, and the perceptions and attitudes of individuals varied widely within both the Union and the Confederacy.