Aspects of Slavery and Freedom Seeking in North Carolina
Absconding-Laws pertaining to Running Away
During the antebellum period from 1825 to 1833, several laws were passed. One of the laws made aiding an escaped slave a felony, which was punishable by death. “This was no doubt aimed at Northern men bent on working the Underground Railway. For ordinary cases of persuading slaves to run away or for harboring runaways one should on conviction pay the owner of the slave a fine of $100 and damages and be liable to fine of $100 more, and might furthermore be indicted and fined another $100 and imprisoned not more than six months.” The presence of these laws demonstrate the presence of white help.