Map and timeline of newspaper matches for Fugitive Slave Act
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Fugitive Slave Act

The 1850 law, part of the Compromise of 1850, and the cases it brought. Newspaper pages from 1850 to 1861 on a map and timeline.

US News Map searches Chronicling America, the Library of Congress collection of digitized American newspapers, and maps every matching page by where and when it was printed. Play the timeline to watch a word or a story move across the country.

Each result links to the full page image at the Library of Congress. US News Map is maintained by Trevor Goodyear.

23,766,177 pages from 4,691 newspapers, 1736–1963.

Sample results

54955 matching newspaper pages in total. Washington, DC has the most hits (8409 pages). Showing up to 10 earliest results from this city.

  1. The Daily Union — 1850-01-04, page 1

    The Library of Congress text does not contain the match. It was found in American Stories (Dell et al. 2023), a second machine reading of the scans. OCR credits.

    These excerpts come from American Stories OCR.

    … view the prospective sboltoa OF the African slave trade and for the recovery Of fugitive slaves Any he sasi.c % ss 70 asc, me ,S.aioa Of slavery il the Sates the District Of Columbia …

  2. The Daily Union — 1850-01-04, page 3

    … slave States were permitted to pursue into the free States and recapture their fugitive slaves. Those matters were stated in the paper alluded to as preliminary explana tions …

    … runaway slaves > Did not Mr. Seward, when governor of New York, refuse to deliver up fugitive slaves.' Was not a citizen of Maryland murdered recently in Pennsylvania for pur suing …

    … and attempting to bring back a fugitive slave, the murderers being afterwards acquitted t We believe such things have occurred …

  3. Daily National Intelligencer — 1850-01-04, page 1

    … view the prospective abolition of the African slave trade, and for the recovery of fugitive slaves Any attempt, therefore, on the gress, to legislate on the suljeet so as to affect …

  4. The Daily Union — 1850-01-05, page 3

    … that the Hon. William H. Seward, when governor of New York, refused to deliver up fugitive slaves escaping from their masters. _ We understand that we are mistaken in the statement …

    … our aiticle in reference to this matter. Mr. Seward did not refuse to deliver up fugitive slaves, bat he did, while governor of New York, refuse to deliver up persons indicted …

  5. The Republic — 1850-01-05, page 2

    … bill might be read. It was read, and provides additional means for the recovery of fugitive slaves. The bill was then referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. By Mr. DICKINSON …

  6. Weekly National Intelligencer — 1850-01-05, page 3

    The Library of Congress text does not contain the match. It was found in American Stories (Dell et al. 2023), a second machine reading of the scans. OCR credits.

    These excerpts come from American Stories OCR.

    … Congress to gsae on the OF excepting special hass a IN ysw few tine recovery Of fugitive slaves. Any attempt therefore, on the part of Congress- egate the subject so as to affect …

  7. The National Era — 1850-01-10, page 3

    … other United States officers, be required to net in the recapture and delivery of fugitive slaves. Very honorable employment! Mr. Mason had the assurance to take for granted that …

  8. Daily National Intelligencer — 1850-01-12, page 2

    … is written, also, in violation ofi the Divine law, that we shall surrender the fugitive slave who takes a refuge at our firesides from his relentless pursuer. as You blush net …

  9. Weekly National Intelligencer — 1850-01-12, page 4

    … is written, also, in violation of {fie Jhvine law, that we shall surrender the fugitive slave who takes a refuge at our firesides from his relentless pursuer. You blush net …

  10. The Republic — 1850-01-15, page 3

    … ? repeal so much of the act of 12th February, 1793, as relates to the returu of fugitive slaves. Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Hy Mr. SCHERMERHORN The petition of …

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