The Act for the relief of Indian Slaves and Prisoners, which was passed on March 7, 1852, in the Utah Territory, dealt with Native American slavery.
At the end of the Mexican–American War, Utah became a part of the United States, and the issue of slavery in the new territories became a highly political subject.
In his book, Forty Years Among the Indians, Daniel Jones wrote, "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.
He discussed the ongoing trial of Don Pedro Leon Lujan and the importance of explicitly indicating the true policy for slavery in Utah.
Young explained that although he did not think people should be treated as property, he felt that Native Americans were so low and degraded that transferring them to "the more favored portions of the human race" would be a benefit and relief.
Young argued that it was proper for persons thus purchased to owe a debt to the man or woman who saved them,[5] and that it was "necessary that some law should provide for the suitable regulations under which all such indebtedness should be defrayed."
[6] The Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Utah legalized slavery in February 1852 and dealt with the enslavement of Native Americans in March 1852.
[8] As a result of the Act, many Mormon families took small Native American children into their homes with the excuse that it was to protect them from Mexican slavery or from being left destitute.
While considering appropriations for Utah Territory, US Representative Justin Smith Morrill criticized the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for its laws on the enslavement of Native Americans.