Weekly Trinity journal., 1866-11-03
CHAPTER FOUR
4" A secret most mysterious. -

A SOLDIERS WIDOW TO ANDREW JoHNsoS.-
The Philadelphia Press publishes letter from a
soldier widow of that city to President Johnson,
in answer to that portion of his Cleveland speech
in which he asked his audience" Who made
greater sacrifices to the war than % ''Who
suffered more than I?'' etc, and submits to the
Just Judgment of the world whether on the score
of sufTerings aud sacrifices his claims to popular
sympathy and support bear any comparison to
hers. She says
"Before the rebellion, sir, l had husband,
kind, loving, Industrious, economical who for
myself and our four little ones, made comforta-
BILE provision. Our home the abode of
peace and plenty. What has become of him
He acds sarUed 10 death at AndersoHriite, and that
by the chivalric' men whom your policy would
fan restore, without repentance, to the head of
our Government. Since then have been trying
my best to bread for my little ones by
plying the needle. At times, when that kind of
employment failed me- have been obliged to
stand, from early morn till night, over the rash
Tub. had two brothers, steady men, kind and
generous. Had the rebellion left them it
it found them, pinching poverty should have
never known. Alas alas ! one of them perished
from exposure and want on Belle Island. 'and the
other had his right arm taken off by rebel shell
ut Antietam. He cannot assist me. The priva-
tions and hardships | have had to endure have
so shattered my own health and strength that
feel at times unable to endure the fatigue
of plying the needle. So that. except my trust
in a merciful God, ! have sacrificed to my conn-
try my dH--husband brother, house, home liv-
ing-and am cast beggar, on the cold charity
of the world. And all this | owe to the south
ern shareholders. and to their niquitous attempt
TO murder my beloved country, as they did mur-
der my husband and my brother.
Now, Mr.. johnson, since you invite compar-
son, what have you suffered? Exhibit your
scars, and wounds, and bruises? Did you lose
leg or an arm, were you even so much as
scrtched or bruis ed? Where is the blood you
shed? Would it stain a white cambria pocket
handkerchief? How much property did you lose
Why, if report speaks true, during most of the
time of the you were living on the q fat of the
land, in Nashville, ont of harms way, protect
ed, as you were by Union bayonets. Out of Tn
Gle Sans overhowing commissary stores you
drew plenty to eat and to drtaf-the best of
meats, and what was of still more consequence
to you, the choicest Of liquors. Add this to your
handsome salary as Military Governor. Then
the great Union party, whom you have so foully
betrayed, made you Vice President with sala-
John Wilkes Booth made you President. and
there you are yet, to the tune of 1000 year,
with firms The rebellion found you, learn,
comparatively poor man. Now you are rich,
with a sound body, not to speak OF your mind.
whose soundneSs is not certain
You Andrew Johnson, talk of your sacrifices
and vour suferings and challenge a comparison.
Fie fe upon you? Why, sir, upon that score !
ought to be Americas : Queen, and yoH ought to
sweating over the wash-tub And now, sir, are
your questions as TO who suffered more than
you, who sacrificed more than YOU b. reason OF
the war, answered? did, sir. and know OF
hundreds of poor women, tossed from the heights
OF afftuence into the vale of penury and want
who have suffered and sacrificed ten thousand
times more than you. and are making no osten-
tations parade over il either
Yours, respectfully.
MARY JANE CATHERwAITE,
soldier widow, and the mother of four father
less children