After an infamous Supreme Court opinion which claimed that the Federal Fugitive Slave Act precluded a Pennsylvania state law that prohibited blacks from being taken out of Pennsylvania into slavery, the state of Massachusetts passed a personal liberty law on May 21, 1855.

This law made it illegal for any state or local government official to aid in the capture of a fugitive slave. It also denied the use of state jails to be used in the housing of captured runaways, and granted them the right to habeas corpus as well. These and other provisions contained in the bill curtailed enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Laws because of federal reliance on state support to enforce the act.

The act appears to have been quite effective, too.  There is no record of a person being taken back to slavery from Massachusetts under the federal act after passage of the state law.

Understanding these provisions can be usual in resisting federal power on various issues today.

The 10th Amendment

“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

LEARN MORE

01

Featured Articles

On the Constitution, history, the founders, and analysis of current events.

featured articles

02

Tenther Blog and News

Nullification news, quick takes, history, interviews, podcasts and much more.

tenther blog

03

State of the Nullification Movement

232 pages. History, constitutionality, and application today.

get the report

01

Path to Liberty

Our flagship podcast. Michael Boldin on the constitution, history, and strategy for liberty today

path to liberty

02

Maharrey Minute

The title says it all. Mike Maharrey with a 1 minute take on issues under a 10th Amendment lens. maharrey minute

Tenther Essentials

2-4 minute videos on key Constitutional issues - history, and application today

TENTHER ESSENTIALS

Join TAC, Support Liberty!

Nothing helps us get the job done more than the financial support of our members, from just $2/month!

JOIN TAC

01

The 10th Amendment

History, meaning, and purpose - the "Foundation of the Constitution."

10th Amendment

03

Nullification

Get an overview of the principles, background, and application in history - and today.

nullification