The Fugitive slave law was an act passed to help southern slave owners maintain their slaves. The act was part of the “Compromise of 1850” proposed by Henry Clay. The compromise was made to resolve disputes between the south and north about land and slavery. The south ended up having slavery allowed below the “36,30” and California joined in as a free state. In the 1840s there were many problems of runaway slaves to the North to become free men. Later on the north was not pleased with the fugitive slave act because they felt as though they were helping promote slavery by returning runaway slaves. This would later lead to the “Personal Liberty Laws.” The North did not want the act, the people felt bad for having to send the slaves back to