Reform: Personal Liberty Laws
By creating the Personal Liberty Laws which protected the rights of runaway slaves, states attempted to nullify the unconstitutional Fugitive Slave Laws.
· Passed by many Northern states
· Granted runaway slaves in court habeas corpus
o Habeas Corpus Law – required state judges to “protect, defend, and procure to be discharged” any slave tried for escaping
· Offered jury at runaway slave cases
· Challenged state power vs. federal power
o In 1830s southern states fought for state rights (allow slavery), and northern states fought for federal power against southern opinion (abolish slavery)
o In 1850s southern states fought for federal power against northern opinion (capture slaves), and northern states fought for state rights (let slaves run away)
· Passed by many Northern states
· Granted runaway slaves in court habeas corpus
o Habeas Corpus Law – required state judges to “protect, defend, and procure to be discharged” any slave tried for escaping
· Offered jury at runaway slave cases
· Challenged state power vs. federal power
o In 1830s southern states fought for state rights (allow slavery), and northern states fought for federal power against southern opinion (abolish slavery)
o In 1850s southern states fought for federal power against northern opinion (capture slaves), and northern states fought for state rights (let slaves run away)