Orson Hyde explains Utah servitude laws.

Date
Dec 15, 1850
Type
Periodical
Source
Orson Hyde
LDS
Hearsay
Direct
Reprint
Reference

Orson Hyde, "Slavery Among the Saints," Frontier Guardian, December 15, 1850, 1 (reprinted in Millennial Star)

Scribe/Publisher
The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star
People
Brigham Young, Orson Hyde
Audience
Reading Public
Transcription

There is no law in Utah to authorize slavery, neither any to prohibit it. If the slave is disposed to leave his master, no power exists there, either legal or moral, that will prevent him. But if the slave chooses to remain with his master, none are allowed to interfere between the master and the slave. All the slaves that are there appear to be perfectly contented and satisfied. When a man in the Southern states embraces our faith, the Church says to him, if your slaves wish to remain with you, and to go with you, put them not away; but if they choose to leave you, or are not satisfied to remain with you, it is for you to sell them, or let them go free, as your own conscience may direct you. The Church, on this point, assumes not the responsibility to direct. The laws of the land recognize slavery,—we do not wish to oppose the laws of the country.

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