Fugitive Slave Act (before war)
The Fugitive Slave Acts are a pair of federal laws that allow for the capture and return of runaway slaves within the territory of the United States. A Law made by Congress in 1793, the first Fugitive Slave Act authorized local governments to seize and return escaped slaves to their owners and imposed penalties on anyone who aided in their flight.
Widespread resistance to the 1793 law later led to the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, which added further provisions regarding runaways and urged even harsher punishments for interfering in their capture. The Fugitive Slave Acts were one of the the most controversial laws of the early 19th century, and many Northern states passed special legislation in an attempt to bypass them. Both laws were formally repealed by an act of Congress in 1864 though. Distributed opposition to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 saw the law become virtually unenforceable in certain Northern states, and by 1860 around only 330 slaves had been successfully returned to their Southern masters. Republican and Free Soil congressmen regularly introduced legislation's and resolutions related to withdraw the Fugitive Slave Act, but the law continued until after the beginning of the Civil War (1861-65). It was not until June 28, 1864, that both of the Fugitive Slave Acts were officially repealed by an act of Congress. |
All information found on: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fugitive_Slave_Act_of_1850