GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE, TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF UTAH TERRITORY, JANUARY 5, 1852.

[Salt Lake City. , 1852].. Brigham Young on the Slavery Question in Utah Territory An important address by Brigham Young to the territorial legislature of Utah, and one of the earliest examples of printing in the state. Among the measures Young suggests in his second official message to the legislature are the publication of territorial laws, the location of the capital in Fillmore, the regulation of State Library use, and the legislative promotion of manufacturing and tradecraft. The address also contains an extended section containing Young's thoughts on slavery, particularly as it pertains to the ongoing practice in some current and former Mexican territory of keeping Indian child slaves. He says, in part: "Restrictions of law and government make all servants; but human flesh to be dealt in as property, is not consistent or compatible with the true principles of government. My own feelings are, that no property can or should be recognized as existing in slaves, either Indian or African. No person can purchase them without their becoming as free, so far as natural rights are concerned, as persons of any other color....Thus will a people be redeemed from servile bondage both mental and physical, and placed upon a platform upon which they can build; and extend forth as far as their capability and natural rights will permit; their thralldom will no longer exist, although the seed of Canaan will inevitably carry the curse which was placed upon them, until the same authority which placed it there, shall see proper to have it removed." A very rare early Utah territorial imprint, OCLC and Flake together locate seven copies. It does not appear in auction records for the past fifty years. Small quarto. A couple small edge chips. Light dust soiling and tanning. Very good. Untrimmed. In a half morocco and cloth slipcase and chemise. AUERBACH SALE 1509. FLAKE 9349. McMURTRIE (UTAH) 11. OCLC 20499139, 81929972.