William Penn Annex East in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

REPLACED

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"An Act respecting fugitives from Justice"

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., March 22, 2017

1. "An Act respecting fugitives from Justice" Marker Text

Inscription.
In March of 1793, Washington signed the Fugitive Slave Act, which gave slave owners explicit authority to recover escaped slaved from any part of the nation. Some agents even took advantage of this law to kidnap free people of African descent.

Erected by National Park Service.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans • Law Enforcement. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #01 George Washington series list. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1793.

Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 39° 57.029′ N, 75° 9.001′ W. Marker was in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It was in William Penn Annex East. It was at the intersection of Market Street and South Independence Mall West (6th Street), on the right when traveling east on Market Street. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 101 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19106, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in Southeast Pennsylvania.

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It was also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it was in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 6 other markers are within walking distance of this location: William Howe (here, next to this marker); Commander in Chief (here, next to this marker); Selecting a President (here, next to this marker); The Executive Mansion (here, next to this marker); Treaties and Appointments (here, next to this marker); What is Executive Power? (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.

Other markers no longer nearby. "We shall come to a civil war" (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); "I will fear no Evil" (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Suppressing the Opposition (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); "I am free now"

"An Act respecting fugitives from Justice" Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., March 22, 2017

2. "An Act respecting fugitives from Justice" Marker

(was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); "Burn this treaty to Hell!" (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The House & the People Who Worked & Lived In It (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); The Keeper of the House (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The opener of the Way (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); A Day of Reciprocity (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The Dirty Business of Slavery (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed).

More about this marker. The marker is highly reflective and difficult to photograph straight on.

Also see . . .
1. Fugitive Slave Act of 1793. PBS "Africans in America" website entry (Submitted on March 25, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

2. Fugitive Slaves, Fugitives from Labor. National Archives website entry (Submitted on March 25, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

3. A defense for fugitive slaves against the acts of Congress, February 12, 1793 and September 18, 1850.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., March 22, 2017

3. "An Act respecting fugitives from Justice" Marker

Exhibit on the interior of the east wall of The President's House partial reconstruction (third marker from right)

Library of Congress website entry (Submitted on March 25, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 26, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 25, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 904 times since then and 474 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 25, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.