Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-09-23
TEMPEST IN A TEAPOT"

TEE RUTLRR Zouaves OF Warrington,
D. O., proposed to 60 to WRrrenton Oh
Yesterday and celebrate the Emanci-
patton Proclamation. Hon. THOMAS L.
JONES was to deliver the address.
Not desiring to violate any law or to
cause any breach OF the peace, ihsy
wrote O polite note to His ExcellencY,
J. Hoes TYLER requesting permission
to enter Virgigia with firearms.
This proposition seemed TO have sent
cold chills down the spinal column of
the mayor Of Warrenton, Va, and he
protested against the innovation. He
remembered that there were two white
men in the Warrenton Jail, charged
with having brutally raped q respecta-
BILE colored woman, and his fear par
took of the nature of trepidation.
He asked the Governor to send to
him an hundred guns from the state
armory, in order 10 meet the invasion
OF peaceAble citizens.
The amusing part of the affair is
plainly seen when the BuTLRR Zouaves
after deciding to abandon the trip with
their guns, stated that they were of q
revolutionary war type, and according
| ly harmless.
The letter sent to Mayor EPILLMAN is
interesting. Here it is:
with profound regret, we, the But
Ter ZouaVes and National Emancipa-
ton Association in joint assembly, re-
I L. L.
visit OF the Butler Z0uave Infantry
Corps to the historic town of Warren
ton, where we wish to celebrate ma
tionAl event in an orderly and COM
mendAble way.
While it is amusing to us to have the
authorities OF q. great commonwealth
uneasy about our arms which are only
relics of 1770, used for drill, and fit for
nothing else, we cannos but resent in q
civil manner the humiliating indignity
that the mayor thrusts upon our or
RAni alton, and particularly upon our
race, by pleading fear OF violence as
the hands or q mob. Individu ally
there are criminals amOng our race.
We would say the same as among 9TH
er racer, but for the fact that almost
every white man in the South endorses
lynching without trial, and pSrtici-
pates in it with some degree OF delight
thus making nearly all Of them critni.
mails Dsfore Justice; for they are guilty
OF murder.
AS whole the cOlored people are
law abiding citizens, faithful and pa.
3 tient in waiting on justice through the
medium OF the law. offer no fact &C
prove this assertion, except the good
= record OF nearly three hundred years
of faithful service to our country anC
our white friends Cd during whief
a time we have never been guilty Of tax
ing the Ia " in our Own hands to righ
| 3 wrong done US as o class. Notwith
! stan ding we have been melted By Oh
lpregsion and iDdignities Of sufflcien
4 cause to make any people rebel ant
commit all sorts OF depredatinns, w
are still able to repress our sobbio,
't cries for justice and equality bsforI
Il the law.
~ II there was any cause for apprehen
sion on the the mayors part, ther
W seems TO be little or no wisdom in &C
vertising the fact of their being tw
1. white men in jail &C Warrenton chars
- cd with criminal assault upon a wOma
OF QUE race. inssmueh as the excursio
:" has been arranged for and We will 3
- run TO WarrentOn the pa instaos, eve
though we must leave our old carbinf
IT, behind. In conclusion, we wish
= have IL known that We do not know
o nor do We believe, man to De guilt
he OF crime until he has bsen tried b
court and jury and 90 judged.
81, We condemn crime; especially Z
we abhor the kind herein mentioned
90 but we Think to lynch an iauocent pc