Governor Brigham Young Checks the Slave Trade--The Prosecution of
Offenders--A Noted Trial--A Cruel Argument to Induce Mormons to Buy
Indian Children.
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 the 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.
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 Lion, 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 defence 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 defence 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,
Walkers brother, became enraged saying that the Mormons had stopped the
Mexicans from buying these children; that 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 secretly.