 Garfield not only favored abolition of slavery , but believed that the leaders of the rebellion had forfeited their constitutional rights . He supported the confiscation of southern plantations and even exile or execution of rebellion leaders as a means to ensure the permanent destruction of slavery . Garfield felt Congress was obliged " to determine what legislation is necessary to secure equal justice to all loyal persons , without regard to color . " Garfield was more supportive of Lincoln when Lincoln took action against slavery . Early in his tenure , he differed from his party on several issues ; his was the solitary Republican vote to terminate the use of bounties in recruiting . Some financially able recruits had used the bounty system to buy their way out of service ( called commutation ) , which Garfield considered reprehensible . Garfield gave a speech pointing out the flaws in the existing conscription law : that of 300 @,@ 000 called upon to enlist , barely 10 @,@ 000 had , the remainder claiming exemption or providing money or a substitute . Lincoln appeared before the Military Affairs committee on which Garfield served , demanding a more effective bill ; even if it cost him re @-@ election , Lincoln was confident he could win the war before his term expired . After many false starts , Garfield , with the support of Lincoln , procured the passage of a conscription bill which excluded commutation . 
