SHERMAN M. BOOTH

Federal authorities had jailed Glover pending his return to his Missouri owner. A local Wisconsin judge issued an order for Glover’s release on the grounds that slavery was illegal in Wisconsin and he was entitled to freedom. The Federal authorities refused to release the escapee. The Wisconsin mob then stormed the jail and broke Glover out. Glover was helped to get to Canada and final freedom by the people of Wisconsin, but Booth was prosecuted and convicted under the Fugitive Slave Act. He was later pardoned. See {587921}.

The Federal Fugitive Slave Act required all in free states to assist owners of escaped slaves to return them to their owners. In 1854 a Missouri slave owner tracked his escaped slave to Wisconsin and the Federal officials incarcerated the slave pending his return. A Wisconsin mob broke the slave out of jail and helped him escape to Canada. Booth was convicted under the Fugitive Slave Act for aiding the escape. Booth’s conviction was overturned by Wisconsin Supreme Court Judge Smith whose opinion overturned the Fugitive Slave Act on the grounds that it had usurped state’s rights. The Supreme Court overturned Smith’s ruling, but Booth was pardoned. See {587928}, {587927} & {587928}. State’s rights is a concept that we generally identify with Southern slave holding states to maintain slavery, but in this case, Wisconsin used the concept to fight slavery.

The Federal Fugitive Slave Act required all in free states to assist owners of escaped slaves to return them to their owners. In 1854 a Missouri slave owner tracked his escaped slave to Wisconsin and the Federal officials incarcerated the slave pending his return. A Wisconsin mob broke the slave out of jail and helped him escape to Canada. Booth was convicted under the Fugitive Slave Act for aiding the escape. Booth’s conviction was overturned by Wisconsin Supreme Court Judge Smith whose opinion overturned the Fugitive Slave Act on the grounds that it had usurped state’s rights. The Supreme Court overturned Smith’s ruling, but Booth was pardoned. See {587928}, {587927} & {587928}. State’s rights is a concept that we generally identify with Southern slave holding states to maintain slavery, but in this case, Wisconsin used the concept to fight slavery.

Federal authorities had jailed Glover pending his return to his Missouri owner. A local Wisconsin judge issued an order for Glover’s release on the grounds that slavery was illegal in Wisconsin and he was entitled to freedom. The Federal authorities refused to release the escapee. The Wisconsin mob then stormed the jail and broke Glover out. Glover was helped to get to Canada and final freedom by the people of Wisconsin, but Booth was prosecuted and convicted under the Fugitive Slave Act. He was later pardoned. See {587921}.