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312 we acknowledge, and express our opinion upon all questions that pertain to our people and country. We promise the public a paper worthy of their patronage, and our people one that will be ever vigilant in their defence when their rights, privileges and opportunities are trammelled, We shall be no less active in speaking our opinion concerning any faults, short-comings, and indiscretions of our own people. What we desire is to represent the race before the public as it is, and see that it has fair play; and by counsel and encouragement stimulate it to move forward till it has attained the highest possibilities of American citizenship."

The Spokesman, keeping to the line indicated above, will ever conserve the best interests of the race, as it understands them.

William B. Townsend first saw the light near Huntsville, Ala., about the year 1854. Samuel, the grandfather, as well as master of the subject of this sketch, was originally a Virginian, but returned to Alabama in the early days of the slavery agitation, and became a prominent citizen of that state. Young Townsend having been sold several times was finally bought by his grandfather, and he and his mother were emancipated during the year 1857.

After remaining in Alabama some three years, they went to Kansas in the spring of 1860. Here he was given a chance for schooling, and he applied himself so diligently that in a few years he developed those traits of character which have since distinguished him as one of the foremost advocates of the rights of his race.

After finishing a course of study in the common schools of his adopted state, he went to Mississippi as a teacher, but