Lead: Under pressure from Southern states, Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850. In the spring of 1859, escaped slave Charles Nalle almost got caught. Intro.: A Moment in Time with Dan Roberts. Content: Increasingly under siege from northern abolitionists and fearful of the loss of their property, Southern slave holders and their allies sought legal protection. If an escaped slave was caught in a free state, federal law demanded that he or she be returned their owner by the arresting authorities. Loading... Taking too long? Reload document | Open in new tab Download [70.12 KB] Share