The Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 gave any white man the authority to arrest a runaway slave. After the arrest, the slave was brought before a judge of the circuit or district court of the United States or before a local magistrate where the capture was made. After displaying proof of ownership such as purchase receipts or plantation records, warrants were issued to allow the slave hunter to return the prisoner back to the state from which he or she had fled.

Since any white man could capture runaways, many—tempted by rewards—made a profession of it. Poor white men with the hope of financial windfalls, made it a habit to watch the roads for people who looked like fugitives. Any African American, whether free or slave, who was caught without proper papers, was subject to violent capture. And most...