UTAH HISTORICAL QUATERLY VOL I - VI

Brigham Young opposes Indian slavery

BRIGHAM YOUNG OPPOSES INDIAN SLAVERY 81 BRIGHAM YOUNG OPPOSES INDIAN SLAVERY* Thus we find that the people of New Mexico, at the time I am writing of them, in 1851, were making annual trips, commenc­ing with a few goods, trading on their way with either Navajos or Utes (generally with the Navajos) for horses, which they sold very cheap, always retaining their best ones. These used-up horses were brought through and traded to the poorer Indians for children. The horses were often used for food. This trading was continued into Lower California, where the children bought on the down trip would be traded to the Mexican-Californians for other horses, goods or cash. Many times a small outfit on the start would return with large herds of California Stock. All children bought on the return trip would be taken back to New Mexico and then sold, boys fetching on an average $100, girls from $150 to $200. The girls were in demand to bring up for house servants, having the reputation of making better serv­ants than any others. This slave trade gave rise to the cruel wars between the native tribes of this country, from Salt Lake down to the tribes in southern Utah. Walker and his band raided on the weak tribes, taking their children prisoners and selling them to the Mexicans. Many of the lower classes, inhabiting the southern deserts, would sell their own children for a horse and kill and eat the horse. The Mexicans were as fully established and systematic in this trade as ever were the slavers on the seas and to them it was a very lucrative business. At this time Brigham Young was governor of Utah and had the oversight of Indian affairs. Some little business in the slave trade had been done on the trip the summer before by our old guide, who was a regular trader. Governor Young asked me something about this business, telling me to look out, and if any of these traders came in, to let him know, as the laws of the United States, which then extended over this territory, prohibited this business, and that it would be his duty to put a stop to the same. He hoped to do this by advising these traders in regard to the present conditions. When this party of traders spoken of arrived, Governor Young was notified and came to Provo. The leaders of this company came to see the Governor, I acting as interpreter. Mr. Young had the law read and explained to them, showing them that from this on they were under obligations to observe the laws of United States instead of Mexico; that the treaty of Guadalupe de Hidalgo, had changed the conditions, and that from this on they were under the control of the United States. He further showed that it was a cruel practice to en­slave human beings, and explained that the results of such a business caused war and bloodshed among the Indian tribes. *Forty Years Among the Indians, pages 49 to 53, by Daniel W. Jones. Salt Lake City, 11890. 82 UTAH HISTORICAL MAGAZINE The Mexicans listened with respect, admitting that the traffic would have to cease. It was plainly shown to them that it was a cruel business which could not be tolerated any longer; but as it had been an old established practice, they were not so much to blame for following the traffic heretofore. Now it was expected that this business would be discontinued. All seemed satisfied and pledged their words that they would return to their homes without trading for children. Most of them kept their promise, but one small party, under Pedro Leon, vio­lated their obligations and were arrested and brought before the United States court, Judge Snow presiding. This was quite a noted case. I was employed as interpreter. George A. Smith defended the prisoners, and Colonel Blair prose­cuted with great wisdom, and tact, he knowing all about the Mexican character, having been in the Texan war. A great deal of prejudice and bitter feeling was manifested toward the Mexi­cans. Governor Young seeing this, used all his influence that they might have a fair and impartial trial, and the law be vindi­cated in a spirit of justice and not in the spirit of persecution. The defense made by the Mexicans was that the Indians had stolen a lot of horses from them and that they had followed and overtaken them. On coming to their camp they found the In­dians had killed and eaten the horses. The only remuneration they could get was to take some children which the Indians offered in payment, saying they did not mean to break their promise. This defense had some weight, whether true or not. Still they were found guilty and fined. The trial lasted several days; the fines were afterwards remitted, and the Mexicans al­lowed to return home. They had been delayed some time, and made nothing on their trip. No doubt they felt sour, but con­sidering the law, they were dealt leniently with. This broke up the Indian slave trade. Stopping this slave business helped to sour some of Walker's band. They were in the habit of raiding on the Pahutes and low tribes, taking their children prisoners and selling them. Next year when they came up and camped on the Provo bench, they had some Indian children for sale. They offered them to the Mormons who* declined buying. Arapine, Walker's brother, became enraged, saying that the Mormons had stopped the Mexicans from buying these children; they had no right to do so, unless they bought them themselves. Several of us were present when he took one of these children by the heels and dashed its brains out on the hard ground, after which he threw the body towards us, telling us we had no hearts, or we would have bought it and saved its life. This was a strange argument, but it was the argument of an enraged savage. I never heard of any successful attempts to buy children afterwards by the Mexicans. If done at all it was done secretly. LEGAL PROSECUTION OF SLAVE TRADERS 83 LEGAL PROSECUTION OF SLAVE TRADERS* Pedro Leon and some of his associates were arrested and tried (as Mexican slave traders) before a Justice of the Peace at Manti (Utah) during the winter of 1851-52, and subsequently their case came up before Judge Zerubbabel Snow in the First District Court. His Honor in summing up the case stated the following as the material facts: "In September last, twenty-eight Spaniards left New Mexico on a trading expedition with the Utah Indians, in their various localities in New Mexico and Utah. Twenty-one of the twenty-eight were severally interested in the expedition. The residue were servants. Among this company were the Spaniards against whom these suits were brought. Before they left, Pedro Leon obtained a license from the Governor of New Mexico to trade on his own account with the Utah Indians, in all their various localities. Another member of the company also had a license given to blank persons by the Governor of New Mexico. The residue were without license. They proceeded on their route until they arrived near the Rio Grande, where they exchanged with the Indians some goods for horses and mules. With these horses and mules, being something more than one hundred, they proceeded to Green River, in this Territory, where they sent some rive or six of their leading men to see Governor Young, and ex­hibit to him their license; and as the Spanish witness said, if that was not good here, then to get from him another license. Gov­ernor Young not being at home, but gone south, they proceeded after and found him November 3rd at San Pete Valley. Here they exhibited to the Governor their license, and informed him they wished to sell their horses and mules to the Utah Indians, and buy Indian children to be taken to New Mexico. Governor Young then informed them that their license did not authorize them to trade with the Indians in Utah. They then sought one from him, but he refused it, for the reason that they wanted to buy Indian children for slaves. The Spaniards then promised him they would not trade with the Indians but go immediately home. Twenty of the number, with about three-fourths of the horses and mules, left pursuant to this promise and have not been heard from since. The eight who were left behind, are the men who were parties to these proceedings." Judge Snow decided against the eight defendants, who were shown to have violated the law, and the Indian slaves in their possession, a squaw and eight children, were liberated, and the Mexicans sent away. *History of Utah, Volume 1, pages 510 and 511, by Orson F. Whitney.