The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1866-10-05
From the Lancaster Intelligenccr
LET EVERY CATHOLIC IN PENSEYIs
bA&E& READ.
Brutal Treatment OF Sisters of Charity
~ John ". GeaFy.

I ~ '20ibd ~. GeaEg.
John W. Geary, with his narrow in
teiIect and bigoted nature, we have no
doubt, made a most acceptable member
Of that infamous political organization
/ which prescribed men on account of
their birth or religious belief His ha-
/ tired Of Catholics did not end with the
short-hved triumph ofth Know-Noth-
ing party. 1t adhered to him, and was
afterwards displayed in the most often
sivemannerpossible
One of the most intelligent, wealthy
and respectable citizens of Frederick,
Maryland, sends us the following state
ment ofan occurrence, which shows in
! its true light the bigotcd and tyranni-
cal character of the vain upstart Whois
! the Radical candidate for Governor Of
Pennsylvania. We give the facts in his
/ own language:
| To tie Editors Qfihe H1telligeacer:
/ DEAR SIRS:-It occurs to me that
/ justice demands that the rude and bru-
tai manner in which some Sisters of
Charity were treated by John W. Geary,
should be known, in order that the
/ Catholic citizens Of Pennsylvania may
understand the character and the spir-
/ it of the man who appeals to them for
support at the coming gubernatoriaI G.
| lection. Thefacts will be besufiicientwith-
out any comment, though you are Of
course at liberty to use them as you see
lift.
In the fall Of 1861, under protection
/ of pass from General Scott, some four
or five Sisters of Charity left the st. Jo-
seph's House at Emmitsburg on their
mission to nurse the sick and wounded
soldiers of both armies. They had per-
mission tOvisitany point along theline
Of contest from Winchester to Rich
mOnd, as theirserviceS might be need
ed. While travelling on the ears Of the
/ Baltimoreand Ohio railroad, underper-
mission from the commander in chief
at Washington to go where they pleas
/ ed in discharge ofthe duties of theirsa-
cred mission, they were arrested at
/ Point Of Rocks by Col. John w Geary.
In a rude manner they with their bag
/ gage were removed from the cars and
/ leftamOng crowds ofsoldiers and rough
camp followers, sitting without shelter
on their trunks by the roadside 1t was
not until after repeated solicitations that
| Col. Geary consented to grant an inter
/ view to the principal sister, lady of
! education and refinement, as were her
associates. Finally this military digni-
tary gave orders to have her led into
his august presence by a guard.
In vain did she explain fully the char
! liable character of her holy omission; in
vain did she exhibit the generala and un-
restricted pass given her by the Com
mander-in-Chief at Washington, au-
thorizing her togo, with her associates,
wherever their holy mission might call
them, or wherever they might be need
ed to nurse the wounded and console the
dving;in vain did she beg to be allowed
to proceed As several parties of Sisters
| had been allowed to do unmOlcsted be-
fore. over the same route; in vain did
she speak of the crying wants of the
wounded, the sick, the dying soldiers
of the Onion army, to relieve and sue
cor whom was a great part OF her mis-
sion; in vain did she assure this petty
tyrant (Geary) that she had nursed the
sick and wounded soldiers ofali parties
in the Crimean war, without molesta-
ton or hindrance, receiving from Turk
and Russian no less courtesy and kind
ness than she did from Frenchman or
EngIishman in vain did she protest
with fearful entreaties against such u
sage in her native land, after having
travelled on a similar mission all over
Europe unmolested. John W. Geary,
bigot by nature and petty Jyrant in
his position, thrust herand liner compan-
ions into the ears and sent them back to
! Frederick City, on their way to the