Kansas-Nebraska Act: Slavery Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Section.Sentence)

Quote #1

[…] when admitted as a State or States, the said Territory or any portion of the same, shall be received into the Union with or without slavery, as their constitution may prescribe at the time of the admission […] (1.1; 19.1)

In other words, when Kansas Territory and Nebraska Territory grow up and decide they want to be States, they can apply for admission regardless of whether they allow slavery or not. One little phrase, such ginormous ramifications.

Quote #2

[…] in all cases involving title to slaves, the said writs of error, or appeals shall be allowed and decided by the said Supreme Court, without regard to the value of the matter, property, or title in controversy […] (9.8; 27.8)

So regardless of your personal feelings on slavery, judges, we're going to need you to judge court cases about slaves without considering the value of those slaves, monetary or intrinsic. Cool? Cool.

Quote #3

And be it further enacted, That the provisions of an act entitled 'An act respecting fugitives from justice, and persons escaping from the service of their masters,' approved February twelve, seventeen hundred and ninety-three, and the provisions of the act entitled 'An act to amend, and supplementary to, the aforesaid act,' approved September eighteen, eighteen hundred and fifty, be, and the same are hereby declared to extend to and be in full force within the limits of said Territory of Nebraska. (10.1)

Nothing to see here, folks, just making sure the people of Nebraska will be sure to return any escaped slaves they come across while enjoying their new territory, regardless of what their own stance on slavery might be. Same goes for Kansas in Section 28.