[DiogenesLamp]

Nevermind that those very states heaped real oppression on the northern states by forcing them via the same central government that they profess to have been so tyrannical, to allow armed men to cross into their territory to hunt down the human slaves that ran away to freedom, with no recourse. Even stipulating that the local authorities had to help them!

Unless I am mistaken, that is not true. After Justice Story's commentary in the case of Prigg v Pennsylvania, Various states passed laws prohibiting local authorities from assisting in the capture of runaway slaves.

[VanDeKoik]

That’s true, but the basic fact is that people were next to powerless in stopping the capture of these people and their extradition.