Fugitive Slave Law (King, 1986)

Citing the new Fugitive Slave Law, they [southern slave-catchers] asked federal marshals to seize one Jerry McHenry, who they cliamed was an escaped slave. People in Syracuse were shocked to see someone in chains marched through ths streets to the federal courthouse. An angry crowd of more than 2,000 gathered. Led by abolitionist ministers, the crowd mobbed the courthouse and battered down the door. McHenry was taken from the marshals and spirited away by members of the Underground Railroad.