Congress passed an act (the Fugitive Slave Law) on September 18, 1850.

The evidence

• “He claimed discharge on the ground of the unconstitutionality of the law under which he had been indicted. The supreme court held that the indictment upon which he had been tried and convicted contained three counts, the first of which was to be considered as properly charging an offense within the act of congress of September 18, 1850, known as the "fugitive slave law," while the second and third counts did not set forth or charge an offense punishable by any statute of the United States ; and as, upon these lastmentioned counts he was found guilty and not upon the first, he must be discharged.”

  1879-history-of-rock-county/02-wisconsin-as-a-state.md, PDF p. 59 / book p. 63

  Butterfield, C. W., et al. The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc. Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1879. Cornell University Library via the Internet Archive, archive.org/details/cu31924028871585.

  Grade A: Found on a page of one of our sources