Prigg v. Pennsylvania 1837
Address:
York, PA
Category:
A slave by the name of Margaret Morgan, who had belonged to Edward Prigg had escaped to Pennsylvania from Maryland. Prigg and three other men, on April 1st 1837 went into York Pennsylvania in an attempt to recapturing his "property". After successfully capturing Morgan, Prigg and the other three men were arrested and put to trial under the laws of Pennsylvania, which Prigg challenged to be unconstitutional as a result of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793. Prigg was fond not guilty after the Supreme Court ruled the Pennsylvania law unconstitutional thus demonstrating the philosophy that National law supersedes State law. This created much controversy and resulted in a further division of the pro slavery and anti slavery factions.
