He once in my hearing used a very felicitous phrase, full of wisdom, "Government by good nature." John Sherman, who had originally been an earnest advocate of a liberal National expenditure for education, joined the ranks of its opponents, putting his opposition largely on the ground that he was unwilling to trust the Southern states with the expenditure of large sums of money.

He feared that the money would not be fairly expended, as between the two races, and that it would be made a large corruption fund for political purposes.
So this most essential part of the reconstruction policy of Sumner and Grant never took effect.

Mr.Sumner deemed this matter vital to success.

He told me about a week before his death that when the resolution declaring the provision for public education at the National charge an essential part of the reconstruction policy, was defeated in the Senate by a tie vote, he was so overcome by his feelings that he burst into tears and left the Senate Chamber.
Another part of the Republican plan for reconstruction was never accomplished.

That was the securing of a fair vote and a fair ascertainment of the result in National elections by National power.