This Abominable Slavery

Debate over an Act for Relief of Indian Slaves and Prisoners

Document Introduction

George A. Smith introduced “An Act for the protection of the rights of Indians,” to the legislature on January 23, 1852. It was returned to committee for a preamble and resolutions. The debate over the bill may have begun that day although George D. Watt’s shorthand for the beginning of the debate does not list a date so it is impossible to be certain.[1] Seven pages into his shorthand, Watt notes that on January 27 “An Act for the relief of Indians” was read by the clerk and the debate over the bill, under the new title, continued. Watt failed to capture every speech and lawmakers refer to various amendments and versions of the bill that do not survive in the historical record. The debate that Watt captures here took place entirely in the Council. If there was a debate over the bill in the House of Representatives, Watt did not record it. Following the debate it was again referred to the committee on Indian affairs. Eventually, on February 28, the act, with its preamble, passed. However, when the legislature met again on March 1, it rescinded the previous vote with no indication as to why. On March 6, legislators again approved the bill and it thus became law.[2]

[1] Utah Territorial Legislature, Debate on Indian Slavery, possibly beginning January 23, 1852, CR 100 912, Church History Department Pitman Shorthand transcriptions, 2013-2021, Addresses and sermons, 1851-1874, Miscellaneous transcriptions, 1869, 1872, 1889, 1848, 1851-1854, 1859-1863, Utah Territorial Legislature, 1852 January-February, CHL.

[2] Journals of the House of Representatives, Council, and Joint Sessions of the First Annual and special Sessions of the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Utah. Held at Great Salt Lake City, 1851 and 1852 (Great Salt Lake City: Brigham H. Young, printer, 1852), 85, 89, 143, 146; A Preamble and An Act for the Relief of Indian Slaves and Prisoners in Acts, Resolutions, and Memorials, Passed by the First Annual, and Special Sessions of the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Utah, Begun and Held at Great Salt Lake City, on the 22nd Day of September, A. D. 1851 (Salt Lake City: Brigham H. Young, Printer, 1852), 91-94; Hosea Stout, On the Mormon Frontier: The Diary of Hosea Stout, 1844-1861, edited by Juanita Brooks, 2 vols. (Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press and Utah State Historical Society, 1964), 2:428.