North Vienna 16^th May '66

                                                                                   

Dear Sir

             Yours of May 10^th is before me I was very much surprised to learn that J. A. Hale had been recommended as assistant P. M. for the following reasons 1^st the Post office will be managed mostly (or as far as they can) by A.C. Hodgkins and Co. Why I think so, is he lives in a building owned and once occupied Hodgkins as a Blacksmith shop. 2^d his occupation is such that he is from home (I should think) over one half of the time which is clock cleaning tinkering &c. his note of hand for $10. would not but very little value 3^d he hardly stops long enoug in one place to receive an appointment for he has moved nine or ten times in eight years. 4^th he does not live on the stage road by (I think) all of ten rods, by driving on to the other road a stage can be turned with in about six rods of his house. 5^th his house is entirely too small it consists of one small cook room and / two small bed rooms, and he has a family of a wife and 3 small children.

 

You say the appointment of Hale will quiet all disturbances will harmonize all difference of opinion and will leave me strong, and receive the esteem and confidence of all those who have in any way been parties to this Post office controversy. I posative cannot think so, I am confident that there is not a true Republican concerned that would justify me in so doing (except you call Jacob S. Graves A. C. Hodgkins and the Cofrens and two or three other true Republicans)

 

But on the other hand I should be very much lowered in esteem of all the leading Union men not only in my own town but adjoining towns. I think that matters must have been very erroneously represented or you could not have come to the conclusion that Mr. Hale is the man to take charge of the office. As to J. S. Graves and the Cofrens they are not men that thought any thing of or looked up to as leaders out of their own families. Mr. Graves their leader has a very easy way of representing things / in his own way. I cannot as a true union man think for a moment of appointing Hale as assistant Post Master and if you believe what I have written and was personally acquainted as I am with all concerned, you would not allow the appointment to be made. In my last to you I stated that I had done the best and all I could I think to have Mrs. Morrill assistant is the best and most convenient as there is a school near, about one half of the time year. Mr. French is a good union man and is competent to take charge of the office. he as I stated is situated about half way between Morrills Tavern and Johnson's Corner.

 

Now Sir as I have before stated I have done all I can and if you think the appointment of Mrs. Morrill or French will not be satisfactory I must respectfully resign as there is no other one who will concent to take the office that I can think of appointing. In fact there is no one except J. Hall and he utterly refused me the day that my / appointment came. Below is a small plan of the Johnson corner so called

 

Please direct which you wish me to do and I will chearfully acquess

 

 

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