This speech explores the ways in which the Chicago Common Council responded to the passage of the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, which required Northerners to aid in the capture and return of escaped slaves. The author argues that the Council played a significant role in resisting this unjust law, and notes the ways in which their actions reflect broader debates about slavery and the Constitution in the years leading up to the Civil War. History buffs and legal scholars alike will appreciate this insightful exploration of an important moment in American history. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.