The Fugitive Slave Act

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Fugitive Slave Act stipulated that the trial of an accused runaway would be a summary proceeding before a federal magistrate, which means that there would be a quick and simple trial without a jury. It also gave federal marshals wide-ranging authority to deputize citizens to help them track down and capture runaway slaves, and imposed heavy penalties on anyone who aided in the escape or concealment of fugitives. Therefore, it did not tilt the legal scales decisively toward accused runaways, did not allow a fugitive to contest the legality of slavery, and did not decrease the obligation of citizens in free states to cooperate with slave catchers.