CHAPTER IX

PROSECUTIONS OF UNDERGROUND RAILROAD MEN

Enactment of the Fugitive Slave Law of 1793 254

Grounds on which the constitutionality of the measure was questioned 254

Denial of trial by jury to the fugitive slave 255

Summary mode of arrest 257

The question of concurrent jurisdiction between the federal and state governments in fugitive slave cases 259

The law of 1793 versus the Ordinance of 1787 261

Power of Congress to legislate concerning the extradition of fugitive slaves denied 263

State officers relieved of the execution of the law by the Prigg decision, 1842 264

Amendment of the law of 1793 by the law of 1850 265

Constitutionality of the law of 1850 questioned 267

First case under the law of 1850 268

Authority of a United States commissioner 269

Penalties imposed for aiding and abetting the escape of fugitives 273

Trial on the charge of treason in the Christiana case, 1854 279

Counsel for fugitive slaves 281

Last case under the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 285

Attempted revision of the law 285

Destructive attacks upon the measure in Congress 286

Lincoln's Proclamation of Emancipation 287

Repeal of the Fugitive Slave Acts 288