Dear Williams
I have received several communications from
you of late but have had no time to thank you for them my
engagements having been such as to render it impraticable.
I have no clerk secretary or any other officer in the chamber
to render me assistance except Mr J. H. Culbreth who has been
kind enough to come whenever I send for him to afford me all
the assistance in his power. I have freedom to nominate a
Secretary of State until the salaries of the officers attached
to the Executive department were finally settled and until I
could have some understanding with some of the gentlemen
of the Senate in relation to the appointment of Mr Culbreth an
opportunity was afforded me a few days since by Msr Tidball
& Goldsborough and to whom I made an appeal in behalf of
the sick & afflicted man now laboring under disease & nearly
brought to the brink of the grave by this supposed prescription
of him. I asked them to contrast my situation with what it
was before the alteration of the constitution. Then I had a
council of friends around me that was ready & willing to
sustain me in all difficulties & to whom I could appeal for
advice & counsel without out any fear of being misled and
with a clerk I knew to be the best qualified man for the
office in the State & who was always ready to carry out my wishes
page two
as soon as they were made known to him. And now Sirs what
is my situation? I am here in this empty chamber without coun-
-cil without clerk without any friend to whom I can turn to ask
advice or ask for papers, which I often am. I cannot tell where
to find them and members of committees in consequence am obliged to
go to the sick chamber of Mr. Culbreth to obtain this information needed.
Under these circumstances I must be frank & candid with you. I
(nor any other man) cannot get along with a stranger as Secretary in
the office who is unacquainted with this forum & unable to finish the
papers daily called for. I sure(?) know(?) this I would lay down
the office and return once more to my happy home. I told them
I should nominate Mr. Culbreth & that it should rest with them to
determine whether he should be Secretary or not--that I had
sworn that I would do so & that I would consider myself a _____
man if I did not--that I had determined to do so even had Cul
breth withdrawn in consequence of the opposition making against him
on the part of the Senate---This observation was made in answer
to a question asked by one of them if I would persist in nominating
him as if he would not withdraw his name upon being satisfied
that a majority of the Senate was opposed to him---I have
talked with 3 Senators who are friendly to Culbreth and can’t ______
Tidball, Goldsborough and Wright.came(?) here(?) today(?) with an understanding
that the matter was to be discussed fully & frankly
but persons coming in prevented. I understand from President Thomas
yesterday that the sentiments of the Senators seemed to be undergoing
a change. Mr. Ricaud came in to my chamber to explain & apologize
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for his conduct & to say it did not proceed from ________________
for me & that let him vote as he would upon the ________________
his kindest feelings for me--There is one letter of _______
here & elsewhere about this matter and much sympathy felt
for Culbreth and indignation against the Senate for the stand
they have taking in this matter---
I was informed confidentially yesterday that the committee
would report favorably in the case of Culbreth this day. If
so this will make the matter worse for the Senate---
I have written you this hasty scrawl to put you in possession
of all that materially affects me at present & of my situation
_____ this matter in few days more, & you, _____ hear
from me again in relation to this & other matters. Unless
you can come & stay some time with us--burn this
as soon as you read it as it contains matter not fit
to be seen by any one _____ yourself and written humbly
all pretty well---your friend truly & sincerely
Tho. W. Veazey