to restore him to the regiment!" The Governor sighed, and looked very sad, but at the same time as meekly determined as Moses. "My dear Colonel, I knew it all," he said. "But I think I am right. I think I am acting out our American principle--the greatest good of the greatest number. I must beg your patient hearing and your secrecy. In the first place, Gazaway is not to keep the commission. It is merely given to whitewash him. He will accept it, and then resign it. That is all understood." "But what the ---- do you want to whitewash him for? He ought to be gibbeted." "I know. Very true. But see here. We _must_ carry the elections. We _must_ have the government supported by the people. We _must_ give the administration a clear majority in both houses of Congress. Otherwise, you see, Copperheadism and Secession, false peace and rebellion will triumph." "But the way to carry the elections is to whip the rebels, my God!--to have the best officers and the best army, and win all the victories, my God!" The Governor smiled as if from habit, but pursued his own course of reasoning resolutely, without noticing the new argument. His spunk was rising a little, and he had no small amount of domination in him, notwithstanding his amiability. "Now Gazaway's Congressional district is a close one," he continued, "and we fear that his assistance is necessary to enable us to carry it. I grieve to think that it is so. It is not our fault. It is the fault of those men who will vote a disloyal ticket. Well, he demands that we shall whitewash him by giving him a step up from his old commission. On that condition he agrees to insure us the district. Then he is to resign." "My God! what a disgraceful muddle!" was Carter's indignant comment. The Governor looked almost provoked at seeing that the Colonel would not appreciate his difficulties and necessities. "I sacrifice my own feelings in this matter," he insisted. "I assure you that it is a most painful step for me to take." He forgot that he was also sacrificing the feelings of Captain Colburne and of other deserving officers in the gallant Tenth. "I wouldn't take the step," returned the Colonel. "I'd let the election go to hell before I'd take it. If that is the way elections are carried, let us have done with them, and pray for a despotism."