Home > Back to Search Results >
The Fugitive Slave Act in a Washington, D.C. newspaper...
The Fugitive Slave Act in a Washington, D.C. newspaper...
Item # 655054
Currently Unavailable. Contact us if you would like to be placed on a want list or to be notified if a similar item is available.
September 21, 1850
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., September 21, 1850
* Fugitive Slave Law - Act
* Millard Fillmore signs into law
* Southern slave holders & Northern Free-Soilers
* Best title to be had from our nation's capital (rare)
Being the mouthpiece of the federal government it was typical that reports & documents emanating from Congress would appear in print first in this newspaper. Collectors always desire to have notable governmental reports in newspapers from the nation's capital.
Not surprisingly most of this four page issue is taken up with verbatim debates in the Senate, consuming most of pages 1 & 2 and carrying over to page 3.
Taking about 1 1/3 columns on page 3 is: "An Act to Amend & Supplementary to the Act entitled 'An Act Respecting Fugitives from Justice and Persons Escaping from the Service of their Masters, approved February 12, 1793". This latter date was the original Fugitive Slave Act of 1793.
This later iteration, which was incorporated into the Compromise of 1850, was one of the most controversial elements of the Compromise and heightened Northern fears of a "slave power conspiracy". It required that all escaped slaves, upon capture, be returned to their masters and that officials and citizens of free states had to cooperate. Abolitionists nicknamed it the "Bloodhound Law" for the dogs that were used to track down runaway slaves.
At the conclusion of the lengthy text which contains all ten Sections, is: "Approved, September 18, 1850", which was the date it was signed into law by President Millard Fillmore.
A very notable & historic document of the 19th century and terrific to have in this venerable Washington, D.C. newspaper.
Complete in four pages, very nice, clean condition.
Category: Pre-Civil War
No Longer Available
