John Breckinridge, a prominent politician from Kentucky and a Confederate general during the American Civil War, strongly supported the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. This piece of legislation mandated that all escaped slaves were to be returned to their owners, even if they were found in free states. Breckinridge viewed the act as a necessary measure to uphold the constitutional rights of slaveholders and to maintain the institution of slavery, which he believed was vital for the Southern economy and way of life.
As a member of the Democratic Party, he aligned himself with those who felt that the federal government needed to enforce the rights of slaveholders. Breckinridge’s support for the Fugitive Slave Act was also influenced by his desire to maintain the Union and avoid conflict between the North and South over the issue of slavery. He believed that by ensuring the enforcement of the act, it would help calm tensions and promote a sense of compromise, though ultimately, the divisive nature of slavery could not be contained.