National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1866-09-21
4 Soldiers Widows Letter 10
The President.

a
publishes q letter from a soldiers
widow OF that city to President John /.
son. in answer to that portion of his /.
Cleveland speech in which he asked .
his audience-"W Who made greater
sacrifices in the war than 2" "Who
suffered more than | ?" &c, and sub
mits to the just judgment OF the
world whether on the score OF sui
ferings and sacrifices his claims to
popular sympathy and support bear
any comparison to hers. She says
Before the rebellion, sir, | had
husband. kind, loving, industrious.
economical, who for myself and our
four little ones made Il comfortable
provision. Our home was the abode
of peace and plenty. What has be-
come of him? He lcas starred to
deaM at ANdersonriUe, and that by
the chiyalric' men whom your pol
icy would fain restore. w;,t,inout re-
pentance, to tie mead of our gov
"1nm".t. Since then ] have been
trying my best to earn bread for my
little ones by plying the need'e. At
times. when that employment has
failed me, have even been obliged
to stand, from early morn till night,
over the rdSh-fWb. | had two brG III
ers, steady men, kind and generous.
Had the rebellion left them as it
found them, pinching poverty |
should have never known. Alas
alas. one of them persisted from cX-
! pOsure and want on Belle Island,
and the other had his right arm tax
Ell off by a rebel shell at Antietam
He cannot assist ne. The priyations
and hardships | have had to endure
have SO shattered my own health
and strength that feel at times un.
able even to endure the fatigue o.
| plying the needle. So that, except
my trust in a merciful God. | have
sacrificed for my country my ALL
/ husband, brothers, house, home, liv
ing-and | am cast. beggar on the
cold charity Of the world. And al
this | owe to the Southern slave
holders, and to their iniquitouS at
tempt to murder my beloved coun
try, rs they did murder my HUSBAND
and my brothers.
Now, Mr.. Johnson, since You in
vitc a comparison, what have yoj
suffered? Exhibit yoW sears, an,
wounds and bruises! Did you los
leg or an arm, or We're yoN even $
much as scratched or bruised 2
5 Where is the blood gou shed ?
Would it stain white cambri
pocket handkerchief? How niue
property did yoU lose Why. if It
port speaks true, during. most of tn
time Of the war you were living o
| the fat of the land in Nashville
, cut Of harms way. protected, as 20
were, by Union bayOncts. Out {
Uncle Sans overlooking commiss3
} ry stores YOU drew plenty to eat an
= to driRk-the best of meats, and
!, what was of still more consequence
to you, the choicest Of Hqnors. Ad
= to this your handsome salary q
t Military Governor. Then the grea
T Union party, whom you have sine
0 SO foully betrayed. made YOU Vic
y President, with salary Of $500
per annum. Then, to crown it al
John Wilkes Booth made you Pre-!
ldent, and there YOU are yet, to til
> tune of $4,000 a year, with .frin
g The rebellion found you. | lear
u comparatively a poor man. No
you are rich, with Il sound body, N,
y to speak Of your mind, whose SCUM
a ness is not SO certain.
~ You, Andrew johnson. talk
y0W sacrifices and y0W suffering
and challenge II comparison. Fit
tie. upon you. Why, sir, on til;
a, score ought to be Americas Quee
Vi and yoa ought to be sweating ovt
y the wash tub And now. sir. a
W your questions as to who sutlert
more than you, who sacrificed mo
than YOU by reason of the war. a
Swercd l did, sir, and know hu
" dreds OF poor women. tossed fro
l. the nights Of aiflucnce into the va
J. Of penury and want, who have Su
tered and sacrificed ten thouSan
times more than yoa, and are ma
Il ing no ostcntatiouS parade Of
either. Yours respectfully,
MARY JANE GATHER ATE
a soldiers widow, and the mother
"a four fatherleSs children"