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To the Public. 
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The Name of Venerable (deceased) Citizen Slandered.
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A PLEA FOR BREAKING A WILL.
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WARREN COUNTY, MISS.
May 27th, 1867.

The slanderer is a pest, a disgrace, an incubus to society, that should be subjected to a slow cauterization and then lopped off like a disagreeable excrescence. His long, envious fingers point to not certain locality. The dead-yeah, ever, the dead- over whose pale sheeted form sleeps the sleep no venomed tongue can wake, and whose pale lips have then no voice to plead, are subjected to the scandalous attack of the slanderer,
 
"Who wears a mask that Gordon would disown [[fold]] of parchment and eye of stone."

It has been extensively circulated that my father, Isaac Whitaker, who departed this life October 9th, 1866, was for many years troubled with imbecility of mind, and a few years ago became a maniac, purported to have been caused by fright received at the approach of the invading army. 
As but few persons are acquainted with the circumstances, and are not aware why these charges were made, I deem it requisite to give publicity to them.
It is a duty incumbent upon me, and one I owe my deceased father, to see justice done his memory.
Slander, falsehood and perjury have preceded my statement, and to such an extent that truth, regarding my father and his family, seems to have been "contraband." My father has been slandered, and my name used in the most unkind, untruthful and insulting manner, and without any just provocation-a plea gotten up to break a will, and to satiate the vengeance of a malicious fiend-one who, if known in his true character, would be deemed unworthy the notice of a civilized community-a fiend in human shape-

DR. J.L.H.

"Blush- if of honest blood a drop remains 
To steal its way along thy veins: 
Blush- if the bronze long hardened on thy cheek. 
Has left one spot where that poor drop can speak.

In consequence of this slander, affairs have become so complicated that I now had it requisite to pen a short sketch of the life of my father, with a brief history of his family. Feeling convinced that a statement of facts, is all that is required to scatter this falsehood like chaff. I, therefore, will hesitate no longer to reveal facts connected with our family, that, for weakness, sins of meanness, and duplicity, would astonish the civilized world; and would appear fabulous, and I would in consequence, hesitate to relate, did I not have witnesses to corroborate the truth of my assertions. Yet, my regrets are many that I am forced to bring this scandalous affair before the public.
My national pride revolts at the thoughts of my name appearing in connection with an affair so disgraceful.
Let no one imagine that I do not feel very sensibly the disgrace consequent upon the occasion, or that I am so devoid of delicacy, of sentiment, as not to feel it.
I and my dear old father endured, for many months, the agonizing pangs of mortification, in consideration of the disgrace that threatened our family. It proved too much for the feeble [[page cuts off]] were separated, our homes being with different relatives. (excepting Quill, who remained with pa). I lived with my aunt (my father's sister). When I entered my tenth year, I was sent off to school, remaining three years in Kentucky. Returned and remained a few months with my aunt, and once more returned to my own home, to live with my father. 
The duties of housekeeping, and the cares of the family devolved upon me. I was a novice in the art, but had the assistance of my kind and indulgent father. I did the housework, including ironing, scouring, pastry-making, attending the dairy, and the sewing for the family and servants, &c., &c.
I kept my father's accounts; I also assisted him with the various duties about the premises, such as weighing cotton, giving rations to the hands, attending the sick, etc. I kept no house-servant besides the old cook. Our circumstances did not admit of our keeping more than one servant. My father labored hard. I considered it my duty to be employed also.
Quill was also at home, and after attending day school several years, he was sent to College, remaining three years at the Universities of LaGrange and Danville, Ky. He studied medicine three years, attending the lectures in New Orleans, La., and in Louisville, Ky. Whilst attending the last course of lectures, he married and returned home, to live with pa. 
His wife, Adveline Cecilia, was accomplished. She professed warm friendship for me, but did not treat pa with due respect. He was a gentleman of "the old school," plain, truthful and honest. She looked upon him as rough and uncouth.
Martha attended day school for several years; was then sent eighteen months or more to a boarding school in Vicksburg; returned home and was soon afterwards engaged to be married. Pa opposed the choice she made. Warden Whitaker was known to be of an indolent character, possessing neither energy or ambition. Pa never used violent measures on any occasion, and did not on that. When he saw that she was determined to marry, regardless of the opposition offered by her friends. He thought it would be more prudent for her to be married at home, but would not permit any preparations to be made or any invitations to be given. The marriage was opposed by all members of the family, my grandmother included. Quill would not remain at home to witness the ceremony. When I expostulated with her in regard to her disobedience and her undutiful conduct, her rejoinder was: "You are only envious because I am going to be married before you." I said no more. I never owned her affections. The dear kindred ties of consanguinity never bound us together. She was of a jealous, envious disposition. The implicit confidence that pa reposed in me had excited her jealousy, until I became an object of hatred to her. Yet it was my duty to study her welfare. But she disregarded the counsel of all- and that important die, on which the happiness of her life depended, was injudiciously cast. I then (for the first time) saw my father shed tears. No congratulations, no blessings followed her from her childhood's home.
That marriage proved to be the beginning of our domestic troubles. Her husband took her to live with his mother, in Hinds county. Whilst liv-there [[living there]]. I chanced to meet with her on the street in Vicksburg, a few months after her marriage. She wore a troubled look. She applied to me for money. I applied to my father, who was in the city at the same time. Pa hesitated about giving her the money, saying "that she deserved to be pun- [[page cutes off]]
He paid $10,000 for the place. Pa assisted him, by giving him cotton, stock and a valuable man servant, and for many years afterwards Quill purchased his medicines and clothing in Vicksburg, and pa paid the bills. Pa also gave him money from time to time. Pa never added any property to the estate after Quill and Martha were married. He had the latter to support with her growing family. Without his assistance they would have suffered, as Warden W- did not make the least exertion to support his family.
Pa bought them provisions, clothing, paid their taxes, their doctor's bills, their childrens', schooling, &c., &c. He gave them stock, (horses and cows,) one valuable negro man, a woman to cook and to nurse the children, and money, whenever a petition was presented. Pa's generosity was often taxed.
Our house expenses were not great. Pa was economical, attended to the business of the place himself, made very good crops, always plenty of grain; raised all his stock (horses and mules) and killed his meat. He consequently had but little to buy. The house and furniture was plain-the latter we had but little of. I would sometimes take the money allotted me for clothing and get a piece. My expenses were slight, my wardrobe plain. I rarely ever left my home, and had no use for finery. I denied myself many things that Pa would willingly have given me, but I did not wish to excite the jealousy of my brother and sister. I preferred peace to other enjoyment, My aunt's daughters would often replenish my wardrobe with a nice present-something more expensive, than I ever indulged in buying with my father's money. 
Pa's health was on the decline previous to the war. He suffered with dispepsia. He rarely ever left his home, excepting on business. He was fond of company and during the war enjoyed the society of the sick soldiers who were constantly with us. When the alarm was given that our State was about to be invaded by the enemy, many of the citizens fled from their homes, and sought refuge where they thought danger least to be expected.
My aunt, her son, and his family came to reside with us. There were many applications from others, but I reserve a room for Mrs. Martha, and when our army was defeated at Champion Hills, and our country about to be overrun by the enemy, I sent our wagoner over, with a message to Mrs. Martha W- to move over to pa's immediately- that it would not be prudent to remain on the main road, and alone with just her children. She refused to come, on the plea that she would not have time to move all her plunder.
I then sent my cousin (A. Whitaker) to remain with her, thinking that he would be some protection to her. He did not remain long; she soon found him to be in the way, and dismissed him. Pa would often send the servants over to take her provisions, fearing she would suffer, as she lived immodiately [[immediately]] on the main road. They would return and give accounts of the levity of her deportment, entertaining the Yanks, giving suppers to forty and fifty at a time; would go out in the centre of the floor and dance alone for them; would sometimes be out hunting alone with her guard (Tommy Stansbury) a tall, sickly, raw-bony looking creature. I was loth to believe those reports from servants, and did not credit them until I heard them from my cousin, and other reliable persons. There were many rumors afloat disreputable to her character. Her deportment invited and encouraged designers; she was very susceptible of flattery: her vanity too easily [[page cuts off]] must begin to economise, (on a small scale, "of course." First, you must try and prevail on Mrs. Martha to limit-herself to one gallon of liquor per week. Now don't blush, Tippy; no one heard me. You know she learnt to drink when with her friends ("the Yanks"). And it won't do for you to indulge (at the present price of provisions) in eating six and eight slices of ham and in drinking six cups of coffee at a meal. And do not permit your devoted spouse to indulge to such an extent, the ravenous appetites of the youthful Trippys. It won't do, Trippy- it  won't indeed; so take heed in due time. Keep in remembrance the prophesies of your good old father-in law. He prophesied that if you ever got possession of this immense fortune, (you know he entertained doubts about you ever getting it; that it would be do no good; that it would all be gone in three months). Excuse my brevity; a word to the wise is sufficient. I will therefore continue my story.
After the Federal [[ar-? tear crease in paper]] slow, Mrs. Martha proposed to visit [[ tear crease in paper]] pa's. He permitted her to do so, in consideration of her children, one of them then sick, (having chills,) "little Fannie"- a sweet, angelic little creature, who fell a victim to her mother's neglect. Before she came to pa's, she was often left alone all day, when [[-ck]], her mother in the woods hunting with "Yankee Tommy." It was with much reluctance and many sad forbodings that pa consented to take her under his roof. He anticipated troubles; he longed for peace and quiet; but it was no longer to be found in his house. He loved children, but could never enjoy the society of his grand-children. They were rude and impertinent. Their mother had never taught them to respect the aged. She seemed to think that a parent had nothing to do but to confer favors, without being entitled to anything in return-not even respect or regard for their feelings. The unwholesome diet that we were then subjected to kept pa in feeble health. At times, our food was barely sufficient to keep body and soul together. I took in sewing, but did not realize by it sufficient to obtain for pa the necessaries of life. Food was at fabulous prices. We were left destitute by the invading army; we had Confederate money, but no team or conveyance to send out [[?]] Dixie to get provisions. Pa then denied himself medical aid. he could not do without his tobacco, which was an expensive article. He would often wonder why Quill did not come down to see what had become of him, for he was fully aware of the distressed condition of the people in this portion of the State. He would often, hear (indirectly) from Quill, that he was doing well.
Pa was then in feeble health, his physical strength not admitting of his leaving the house. He was at such times much annoyed by Mrs. Martha's impertinence and her children's rudeness. No poor negro in bondage was ever treated with so little respect.
Such treatment to the decrepitude of old age argues a hardness of heart, but when such treatment is extended to a kind and good parent -one who had labored hard and devoted the fruits of his labor to his [[?]] children, and had denied himself [[?]] comforts of life to give [[crease in paper covers entire line]] conduct argue imbecility of mind, as well as hardness of heart?
Pa was one of those genial, kindly men, who never spoke a harsh word to any woman. He did not resent the insult from that heartless woman. It was hard to see pa treated so; but for the sake of peace, we endured it in silence. We endeavored to avert the domestic storms that threatened our household. Domestic [[W-?]] with all [[page cuts off]]
sel where a rabbit had been soaked, several days previous.
When Mrs. W-m-n came in, pa related the circumstance to her, telling her how very sick he was, and he thought his time had come."
I will relate another circumstance that occurred a short time previous to the renting the place. We were then on very short rations. Mrs. Martha ordered chicken for breakfast. They were cooked and placed on the table. She arose, took the chicken, with some bread, into her room, calling her children after her. When pa sat down to the table, he missed the chickens, and called to her: "Martha, I thought that you had chicken for breakfast." She squalled out from the adjoining room, "So I did, but I had them for my children."
Pa said no more to her, but remarked to me, "Daughter, our breakfast is a tough one." It consisted of bread and coffee, without sugar. He was too weak to subsist on such diet.
I proposed to him to sell his land and procure for himself the comforts of life; that it would support him for his lifetime. He replied, "No, daughter, I will not sell my land; it is my all, and I must leave you a home. I believe that God will provide for us; we can surely rent our land another year."
Pa was an early riser. Morning's dawn would never find him in his bed, and when his health would admit,  he would make his own fires. Our circumstances would not admit of hiring any one to get up wood. The negroes would sometimes get up wood, and sometimes Warden Whitaker would cut wood; but if pa would burn any of it before Mrs. Martha arose of mornings, she would grumble and quarrel, and sat "that Warden cut that wood for her children."
She would often try to crowd pa out from the fire, by pushing her children before him, and would often remark, in his hearing, "that she did not see what he was living for; that he was just stuck here in the way."
That remark was made several times in the presence of Mrs. W-m-n and Mrs. P--.
I have seen pa pack wood, rather than to touch any that Mrs. Martha had stored away. He would not accept my assistance at such times if he knew it, telling me that he would rather suffer with cold than to see me go in the woods after wood.
  Warden Whitaker's treatment to pa was similar to that offered by his wife. He would growl and curse at him in a low under tone, not exactly wishing pa to hear all that he would say. It was done in a bragadocia like manner, and intended more for the ears of others. He would often allude to his poverty, saying, "I am poor now, but it will not always be the case." Pa believed that he had reference to the portion that he anticipated getting at his death. He would often make such allusions, although he was aware that pa had made a will some years previous to the war, and in that will had disinherited Mrs. Martha, for her disobedience and undutiful conduct.
Pa, fearing that that will was lost during the war, concluded to make another. His anxiety was great in regard to it, and he made an effort to reach the city, with that intention in view, and to settle up his money matters. I tried to dissuade him from the purpose, believing him to be too weak to reach there on horseback (his only conveyance). He replied. "Daughter, I am not long for this world. I wish to secure to you a home before I am called away. I am going down to settle up my affairs, and to have my will written. I will get a lawyer to write it. I do not wish a flaw in it. I have given Quill and Martha more than I now have to give to you. (The like sen- [[page cuts off]]
ly exhausted, and just so long as he would supply their wants, they would send to him, never thinking once of his helpless condition. His generosity was imposed upon. I had seen him deny himself the comforts and necessaries of life to give to them, without receiving even respect in return for his kindness.
They were highly incensed with me, and did not hesitate, to use my name in the most unkind and untruthful manner. They laid in their complaints to Dr. Hebron. who sympathises with them, and gets up a subscription for the much abused and starving family of Warden Whitaker, and he at home in idleness, not making the least exertion or effort to support his family. 
When pa heard of this his pride was wounded; he was mortified to hear of such transactions-that one of his family should show so little pride of character-and said: "As old and as feeble as I am, I would have worked or starved. before I would have consented to that."
Those combined annoyances and vexations were too much for him; he could bear no more. His health declined rapidly. From that moment all who were with him observed the change.
In assisting my father with his business transactions, I chanced to incur the displeasure of a few persons, and the enmity of one-a vile, contemptible phist, (Dr. John L. Hebron). He and his wife, (who, by the by, is a most worthy and estimably lady, and my friend,) spent many months with us previous to the great national surrender.
  During the time of their stay, Dr. H---n was trading and trafficking with the enemy, giving them information, telling them which of the citizens to forage upon, &c. He once sent them up in the neighborhood of Col. Russell, and they were to bring him corn in return for his information; but being surprised by the Confederates they returned minus the corn. He speculated largely in cotton, buying from many, and stealing from the absent citizens. He carried a large lot of cotton to Memphis, and did not have to take the oath to get there. (So he says.) He was looked upon as a traitor to his country. He was alternately- Confederate and Yankee. The latter epithet could not have been more applicably applied. But through respect and friendship for his wife I remained silent on the subject, and endeavored to treat him with respect.
In some of his business transactions with the Yankees (some whom he had engaged to steal mules for him) he chanced to get in trouble. They threatened his life. He fled to the city for safety. He purchased a lot and remained there for some time.
The following winter he sent out a petition to rent pa's place. I opposed his getting it, but not that I objected to the inducements offered, but I had very serious objections to having that brute, that domestic tyrant, again under our roof. His cruel, brutal treatment to his wife the few months they remained with us, proved very annoying to pa and myself. Mrs. Hebron was constantly in tears; we could hear the scuffle when he would be beating her. We would often see marks of violence on her person, scratches on her hands, &c. her body was rarely ever without a bruise. Such scenes were very unpleasant to us,we truly [[?]] sympathized with Mrs. H., who was a proud woman and tried to keep the secret of her domestic troubles from the world.
Our guards would sometimes ask my opinion in regard to their interfering at such times. They were often tempted to do it, but it would not have availed much, unless they had taken his life. Such meanness was ingrained. [[page cuts off]]
chastisement that they first intended should be his portion. 
But the worst circumstance that attends this fool, is his jealousy of public opinion. His petite figure and narrow contracted mind giving rise to these fears. He seems to entertain a constant jealousy of any one being thought his superior, particularly his wife (who is, in every respect,) which which induces him to do absurd and disagreeable things, for not other reason but to show he dares do them. One reason for whipping his wife so much, for I am sure she does not deserve it.

THE CLOSING SCENES OF MY FATHER'S LIFE.

On Friday, the 5th of October, the day previous to his last illness, his physical strength seemed much improved. He sat up nearly all day and conversed more than usual, addressing his conversation to Mrs. Williamson, speaking of his family affairs, and spoke to Martha's cruel treatment to him- how much he had endured from her and how much [[ paper is creased and torn ]]] he had done for her. That he had supported her all her life, and her family for fourteen years. That it was not his intention to leave her anything in his will excepting twenty or twenty-five dollars-just sufficient, he said, to prevent his will being broken; that he was confident she would try, and he did not wish Margaret to have any trouble; that it was justice to give her the little he had left; that he had given Quill and Martha more than he could now give Margaret; and that Quill had plenty; that he felt assured that Quill would not interfere; that he had told him how he would dispose of his property, and that Quill was satisfied.
He remarked in the evening of the same day, that he felt so much better that there was a probability of his health becoming better, and of his living many years. But, alas! for the fallicy of human hopes; that night he took his bed, never to rise from it again.
I listened through the night to hear him cough, as usual, but did not hear him. I thought that he was sleeping soundly and would not get up, lest I would disturb him.
The following morning one of the servants informed me that my pa seemed to be very sick; that he looked so pale. I went to him immediately, gave him brandy toddy, and put warm irons to him as he was cold. I then sent for Dr. Cook. He was not "at home." I sent several times before he could be found, preferring him to any other physician-but fearing that I would not get him in due time, I sent for Dr. Scott. He sent an excuse that he was not well enough to venture out at night, but would come down next morning. 
About eight o'clock, P. M., Mr. S. W. Cowan came over and requested me to give pa quiniue. I felt somewhat fearful, in following his prescription, as I believed him to be under the influence of liquor, but remembered that that was the prescription usually given by Dr. C.
Mrs. Williamson and I gave the quinine, alternately with brandy toddy, during the night-Mr. C. remaining on the gallery, coming iu [[in]] occasionally to inquire how pa was. Pa seemed quite sick but did not complain or feeling any pain, and did not talk excepting to answer questions and to ask for [[page is folded over to cover the entire line]]
Early the next morning Dr. Cook arrived and prescribed for him. When Dr. Scott arrived, he went to the bed, saying, "How do you do, Mr. Whitaker?"
N. B. Pa was asleep, or in a stupor, as he had been all night, the room darkened, his eyesight bad, and he inclined to be deaf.)
Pa aroused himself when spoken to. [[Page cuts off]]