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that has done much harm, beat and killed many negroes, in spite of the Military when they were here, and in spite of the good citizens who are all opposed to it, and the courts of the country, who have done all they could to put a stop to it. Well now what can these good citizens do. I tell you now this was not time for you to send colored preachers here. I have suffered no little persecution and injury here for [[strike-out]] my [[/strike-out]] and in my attempts to get justice for the colored people and to do them all the good I could, and it is very unfortunate that you sent Fortune here at this time, now that he is here he can only serve this one church. I do not believe he can serve the country. This is not the time to attempt to force yourself upon the country. The Methodist ministry will be your friends and assist you all they can, but do not attempt to force them to it, then they will hold back. Now you have a preacher here that can scarcely read, and neither he nor any of his congregation can write or read writing. How can they manage their own affairs? And as to occupying their church here they (if permitted) can only do it when the other church is not occupied, for they are in a few yards of each other. Well here are the facts, judge of them as you will. Respectfully J. C. Simmons