Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-01-17
eeThe Great Law OF Ham,,

The Montgomery, Alabama Ledger, of
Aug. IL, ponderously INQUIRIES
"Now let is ask upon what ground it
can be supposed that the negro, by his
emigration (?) to the land of the white
man, has been excepted the great law of
Ham?"
We ourselves are suffering for an an
swer (; and while proslavery theologlans,
like the Rev. Nehemiah Adams, and the
Right Rev. Bishop of Vermont, are pre-
pairing a proper response, We solicit infor-
nation on the following points =
Wherein does the great law of Ham
differ, in provision, from that OF roast
beef9
Is the Ham referred to, of a kind that
can be smoked or dried, broiled or fried?
Does the great law of Ham develop in
its operation the principle of root, hog,
or die ?"
Does the great law of Ham include b.
con if so, is it strong enough to control
the "rasher" of the two ?
Was Ham bred under the great law, or
only mustered?
Is the great law founded upon the nat
ural relation between Ham and Eggs
But, more s~eriously speaking, and as
applied to the negro, was the great law
of Ham properly enforced, in May last
(Uide the Records of Montgomery-Hall
Hospital. Surgeon Phipps in charged, up
on a party of thirty negroes who had fol
lowed Wilson's raiders, and returning,
were surprised, thirty miles east of Mont,
gomery, while asleep, and set upon by
one Furguson, or Foster, an oVerseer ?
Did he execute the great law of Ham
properly upon
Jacob Steele-both ears cut of 2"
Amanda Steele-both ears cut off ?'
"Nancy Steele-both ears cut off"
Is that the way Ham is sliced under the
big law in Alabama?
Does the great law provide that Ham
shall be carved (see same hospital record,
thus =
Mary Steele-scalped; whole side o.
head carved clean away died ?"
Does the great law prescribe that Ham
shall be cured after this fashion -
Luther Jones-beard and chin cut
Off"
Or that Ham should be prepared in thi:
manner
Washington Booth-shot in the back
with a load of buckshot, while returning
peaceablysfrom his work ?"
Does the great law direct that Ham
shall be prepared for pickle (see same hos
pital report) in this stile.-
Robert, servant of Colonel Hough, o.
Gen. Smiths staf-stabbed on the step:
of a house by a confederate soldier, dy
ing six days after, on the 9th of July p
"James Taylor-stabbed, one half mile
from town, seven time in the lungs, twice
in the arms, grazed by two shots, n arm
cut one-third off 2"
James Monroe-cut across the throat,
while saddling a horse, by a white man,
Aug. 1877"
We begin to see what "the great law
of Ham" mean in Alabama and if We
did not the record of the Freedmen's
Hospital, at Montgomery, furnishes g
complete exposition.
The great law OF Ham has been en-
forced in this manner since the Odd OF
July
civilian Brown, shot in the left hand
near this city"
William Mathews, about the Ilth o.
August, shot in his arms, on Matthew:
plantation, near town, at the request Of
Matthews"
"Amos MILESTONE, shot through the
neck, Aug. Is, by the so~n-in-law of his
master, John a. Houser."
On the whole, we have made up our
mind not to wait for an answer from Rev.
Nehemiah Adams, or anybody else. We
are of opinion that the negro, by emf
grafton to the land of the white man, has
not escaped the great law of Ham. He
has been roasted under it, sliced under
it, picked under it, carved under it, pep
pered under it aud pretty effectually
cured under it. He has had a fair share
Of the great law of Ham, in Alabama
and we are free to say that we are not
sorry that the great law has been sci
aside. We have had enough of it or
this continent. Humanity demands that
Ham hereafter shall be served up under
the same general laws that apply to the
treatment of other human flesh. Let u.
have done with the "GREAT LAW OF
HAK."-Ezch.