The Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 empowered slaveowners to seize runaway slaves, ordered state and federal authorities to help capture and return runaway slaves, and fined those who assisted runaway slaves. Passed on September 18, 1850 by Congress, The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 was part of the Compromise of 1850. The act required that slaves be returned to their owners, even if they were in a free state. The act also made the federal government responsible for finding, returning, and trying escaped slaves.
