Fugitive Slave Law (second) is adopted in Washington, D.C.

Signed by President Millard Fillmore and authored by U.S. Sens. Daniel Webster and Henry Clay, it strengthens the original 1793 law by allowing slave owners to pursue “their property” (slaves) through the federal courts and appoints federal commissioners to rule in such cases. Passage of the new law causes great concern in Boston, were there are approximately 600 fugitive slaves at this time. The Twelfth Street Baptist Church alone loses 200 members, when they decide to move to Canada.