In my reflections I have thought
there might be some dubiety resting upon your mind
in regard to the views of the inhabitants of the State
of Deseret upon the subject of Slavery in consequece
of their not introducing a clause in there State Constitu-
tion prohibiting Slavery. I think your interesting
visits in our midsts, your travels in our encampments,
your clame of observations in our families Assem-
blies & Councils whare the sentiments of our hearts have
been freely poured out before you must all combine
to convince you that the inhabitants of the State of
Deseret will never sustain in any [wise] the institution
of Slavery in their midst. We are a peaceful and
industrious people have removed to the sequestered vally
of the Great Salt Lake. we do not wish to have anythg
to do with the "vexed question of Slavery" or any of the
other exciting political questions and therefore we deemed
it expedient not to introduce a clause into our
Constitution prohibiting the introduction of Slaves into
the State of Deseret but Slavery can never be
Tolerated there
With Sentiments of the highest Respect
I remain yours Truly
In my reflections I have thought
there might be some dubiety resting upon your mind
in regard to the views of the inhabitants of the State
of Deseret upon the subject of Slavery in consequece
of their not introducing a clause in there State Constitution prohibiting Slavery. I think your interesting
visits in our midsts, your travels in our encampments,
your clame of observations in our families Assemblies & Councils whare the sentiments of our hearts have
been freely poured out before you must all combine
to convince you that the inhabitants of the State of
Deseret will never sustain in any wise the institution
of Slavery in their midst. We are a peaceful and
industrious people have removed to the sequestered vally
of the Great Salt Lake. we do not wish to have anythg
to do with the "vexed question of Slavery" or any of the
other exciting political questions and therefore we deemed
it expedient not to introduce a clause into our
Constitution prohibiting the introduction of Slaves into
the State of Deseret but Slavery can never be
Tolerated there
With Sentiments of the highest Respect
I remain yours Truly
"Letter to Thomas Leiper Kane, 27 November 1849," p. 1, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, accessed September 1, 2024, https://wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/p/rkwE