Mr. Welles Brown, who possibly knew more about the ability and work of the men of his times than most people, says—"Mr. Sampson was an able writer, etc.," which compliment speaks well for him.
John P. Sampson was as well known for his good deeds, and for his arduous work as editor in war and reconstruction times, as any man who ever espoused the Abolition cause.
He was an enterprising editor; which is much to say of a colored man of his profession at that time, for, usually, those so disposed were not suffered to exercise their ability in that direction.
His journal was an authority, owing to the fact that Mr, Sampson was a reliable man. He might be termed an impressive writer,—one whose thoughts in print would leave their lessons deeply stamped upon the reader's mind. His services as an editor and correspondent were largely sought. In addition to his duties in connection with The Citizen, he edited, through the mail, for a brief period, a paper at Louisville, Ky., which was owned by a joint-stock company. We have been unable to find out the name of this paper. The Citizen suspended publication in the latter part of 1865, having done great service in the West for the colored people.
The year 1862 brings us to the period when The Mirror of the Times, previously spoken of, changed hands, and was published as The Pacific Appeal, the proprietor being Mr. William H. Carter. It was because of this paper that Mr. Philip A. Bell left for the Pacific Coast to become its associate editor. The Appeal was also one of The Anglo-African's contemporaries. It was regarded as the official organ of the Afro-Americans on the Pacific Slope, at this time.
The following, which was found weekly in its columns as an advertisement of its aims and purposes, as well as a delineation of the principles for which it fought, will doubtless enlighten the reader as to its stand:
