Two years later, Congress passed a law granting the federal government immense national power. One would have expected outrage from southern states'-rights advocates; in fact they urged its passage. The law in question was the fugitive slave law. It required federal marshals and deputies to help slaveowners capture their "property" and fined them $1,000 if they refused. It imposed strict penalties on anyone, in any state, who harboured an escaped slave or obstructed his capture. Naturally, it was biased in favour of claimants.