The 1850 act made official who did not arrest a slave by lying can get a fine up to 1,000 dollar fine.
In addition, anyone helping a slaves that run away by giving food or shelter... Will be punished to six months prison and a 1,000 dollar fine
Slave owners have to supply information to the federal to capture an escaped slave. Since none of suspected slave was on the trial, this lead to lot of free Africans being forced into slavery since they could not defend them against their punishment.