New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-06-21
A Letter from the Murdered Sim
... '.--.. clair.

De-. ''--. clair.
The following letter from Mr.. Sim
clair, who was recently murdered in
cold blood in Northern Louisiana, was
received a few days since by Rev. Mr..
Diossy. He had not visited the town
to which the letter was directed for
several weeks, hence the delay in its
reception.
The letter, which was written in a
fine business hand, shows US something
of the character of Mr.. Sinclair and
the work in which he was engaged.
But being more intelligent than some
of his white friends, and being able
to present arguments which they could
not answer, his influence over the col
ored voters was greater than theirs,
therefore he must be killed to get him
out of the way:
MONROE, April 8, 1868.
Rev. r. X. Diossy:
DEAR SIR-The reception of your
letter on the seventh instant was to nae
a most agreeable surprise as well as a
source Of great satisfaction and en-
enlargement. 1t came Just in the
right time to sustain my despairing
soul My school now numbers ninety
scholars, from whom / derive but a
very scanty support l have looked
for some time for assistance from the
government, but have received none as
yet. / am told by the bureau agent
here that the government no longer
furnishes aid to the teachers of colored
schools.
For month lin January I kept up
the school in my house, but as the
school began to increase in number l
removed, by the consent of the board
of trustees, to the Methodist Episcopal
church. Here am at present without
any of the necessary articles of a
school, except such as bench-desk
capable of allowing three scholars to
write on and a table or two furnished
me by the parents of the pupils sent
to me. My school is seated on planks
placed across blocks and pieces of
wood that are suitable for raising them
to a sufficient height above the floor. l
have obtained a few spelling books
from the Bureau, but they are of a
kind whose merits are entirely super
seeded by Webster's. / have not in
troduced them to any great extent, pre-
ferring Webster's as the best for in
struction. The Advancement of the
scholars has been considerable. When
began to teach last September there
were not a dozen children in Monroe
who could read intelligently now
there are several. l have classes in
the following branches well advanced;
reading, writing, spelling, geography,
arithmetic, and class in grammar
Just started. | have the following
named reading classes: First, Second,
Third, and Fourth Readers. I have
advanced over forty pupils from their
A, B, C's to the Second and Third
Readers, and they are now studying
arithmetic. and writing since Septem.
Der last. ..........
/ have accepted the nomination of
Representative from my district, and
if. elected will be obliged when the
State Legislature shall set to leave my
school.
Ihope that a teacher more able than
myself may be found to carry forward
the good work. The religious and
moral Instruction. which am endeavor-
ing to impart, and which you justly
observed in your letter to be of the
greatest importance, 1 am endeavoring
to push forward with all the strength
and energy God has given me. have
a sabbath school of from fifty to sixty
scholars and temperance society for
the youth styled 1.-THE Vanguard of
Freedom" But the work is too great
for me. People of color stand and
lock at me with wonder and astonish-
ment, Poor slavery crushed souls, the
lights and blessings of freedom are
above their comprehension. Well, l
might write as much more, but when
you come your eyes will convince you
more than reports.
am yours respectfully.
...., FRANKLIN SINCLAIR.