 Under Chase 's influence , Garfield became a staunch proponent of a dollar backed by a gold standard , and was therefore a strong opponent of the " greenback " ; he regretted very much , but understood , the necessity for suspension of payment in gold or silver during the emergency presented by the Civil War . Garfield voted with the Radical Republicans in passing the Wade – Davis Bill , designed to give Congress more authority over Reconstruction , but it was defeated by Lincoln 's pocket veto . 
