The Fugitive Slave Act By Thomas Garrett

As stated before, the Ohio river acted as a type of buffer zone between the slaves and slaveholders. This is said to have costed them a considerable amount of money. As it lowered the value of those still on the plantations and lost them several millions worth of revenue. The states, like Kentucky, lost even more because of its shared border with Northern states. The Fugitive Slave Act in proportion to the losses did little to impact and influence those in the North. Enforcing the law became a problem as well.
The consensus of the laws put in place to aid the South were of apprehension to the Northern States. Views in the North did indeed range from sympathetic to apathy, however a congregation commenced from this sympathetic sentiment. Those …show more content…
Thomas Garrett was one the outspoken Quaker abolitionist. At the time he lived in Delaware which borders the oppressive slave states. Environments that were anti-slavery still felt is taboo to speak against slavery. This was probably done to remain in a passive state that didn’t want to agitate those who were in the middle. Garrett, however, would write articles signed with his name and published in the Wilmington. Garrett professed his actions and bragged about his work with fleeing slaves. It is said that he aided over two thousand Blacks by providing shelter, food, money and at times …show more content…
Though they were still doing illegal work, the risks were not as high. Instead, they only helped those who were already in the North or on the border. Never did any Quakers go through the South to coax any slaves away from plantations. Richard Dilingham, a former Ohio teacher, was caught trying (escort) pursuers of freedom to the North. He was put on trial and sentenced to the minimum sentence of three years. Dilingham was recorded saying his intention were purely altruistic. To outsiders this was an extreme condition of being an abolitionist, but for others, he was praised for his moral grounding. Thomas Garret was also caught in a similar situation as he was leading a family, a black couple with children. After going to court, Garret was ordered to pay a sum of five thousand dollars. However, Slaveholders and Garret eventually settled outside of court for three grand less. Even with the honest intentions, there were still multiple prices and people to answer