Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-01-04
"The Great Law of Ham,

The Montgomery, Alabama Ledger"
of August 18th, ponderously inquiries;
Now let US ask upon what ground
it can be supposed that the negro by his
emigration (7) to the land of the white
man. has been excused from the great
law OF Ham 2"
We ourselves are suffering for an an
swtr; and while pro slavery theologi-
ans, like the Rev. Nehemiah Adams and
the Right Rev, Bishop of Vermont, are
preparing a proper response, we res
pectfully solicit information on the fol-
lowing points:
Wherein does the great law Of Ham
differ in provision, from that of roast
beef
Is the liam referred to Of a kind that
can either be smoked or dried, boiled or
fricd !
Does the great law OF Ham developin
its operation the principle Of root, hog
or die ?'
Does the great law OF Ham include
Bacon; if so is it strong enough To con
troll the rasher' of the twO2
Was Ham brea under the great Jaw, or
only mustered :
Is the great law founded upon the nat
ural relation between Ham and Eggs?
But, more seriously speaking, and as
applied to the negro, was the great law
of Ham properly enforced in May last
(ride the records of Montgomery. Hall
Hospital. Surgeon Phipps in charge on
a party of thirty negroes who had fol-
"a f,,Cr
were surprised thirty miles east Of
Montgomery, and set upon by one Fer
guson, or Foster an overseer? Did he
execute the great law of Ham properly
upon
Jacob Steele-both ears cut off?
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 CARED (see same hospital record)
thus;
Mary Steele-scalped whole side of
head carved away; died r.
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 peppsred in this
manner:
Washington Booth-shot in the back
with load of buckshot while return
ing from work 7"
Does the great law provide that Ham
shall be prepared for pickle (see same re-
port) in this style
Robert, servant OF Col. Hough Of Gen
Smiths statf-stabbed on the steps of a
house by a Confederate soldier, dying
six days after, on the 9th Of July?
james TaylOr-stabbed one half mile
from town, seven times in the lungs
twice in the arms, grazed by two shots
one arm cut one. third Off"
Games Monroe-cut across the throat
while riding horse, by u white man,
Aug. 1877"
We begin to see what the great law
of Ham means in Alabama and if we
did not the record of the Freedmen's
Hospital at Montgomery furnishes
complete exposition.
The great law of Ham has been en-
forced in this manner since the 22d of
July:
Nlllldlu Drown, ShOL III JHe manu-
near this city
William Matthews, about the 18th
Ol August, shot in his arms on Mat
thews' plantation, near town, at the re
quest of Matthews"
Amos MILESTONE, shot through the
neck, Aug. Is, by the so -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
emigration to the land of the white
man, has not escaped the great law of
Ham. He has been roasted under it,
boiled under it, sliced under it, picked
under it, carved under it, peppered I'M
der it, and pretty etfeCtually cured I'M
der it. He has had fair share of the
great law of Ham, in Alabama; and we
are free to say that we are not sorry the
great law has been set aside. We have
had enough of it ON this continent. HUI
manity demands that Ham hereafter
shall be served up under the same gen
eral laws that apply to the treatment
of other human flesh. Let US have done
with the GREAT LAW OF HAM. "-Er-
change