The Fugitive Slave Law was a taunt and a reproach to that part of the North where the anti-slavery sentiment ruled supremely, and was deemed a partial compensation." Clay expressed surprise that States from which few slaves escaped demanded a more stringent law than Kentucky, from which many escaped.
Whatever may have been the motives leading to the enactment, its immediate effect was the elimination of one of the great national parties, thus paving the way for the formation of parties along sectional lines.

Two years after the passage of the compromise acts the Democratic national convention assembled to nominate a candidate for the Presidency.

The platform adopted by the party promised a faithful execution of the acts known as the compromise measures and added "the act for reclaiming fugitives from service or labor included; which act, being designed to carry out an express provision of the Constitution, cannot, with fidelity thereto, be repealed nor so changed as to destroy or impair its efficiency." When this was read, the convention broke out in uproarious applause.

Then there was a demand that it should be read again.

Again there was loud applause.
Why was there this demand that a law which every one knew had proved a complete failure should be made a permanent part of the Constitution?
And why the ungovernable hilarity over the demand that its "efficiency" should never be impaired?
Surely the motive was something other than a desire to recover lost property.