Question

use the advertisement featured in the columbus democrat, a mississippi newspaper, in the 1850s to answer the question.
runaway
from the subscriber near clive, greene county ala., my negro boy nam fagans, who is heavy built, about five feet eight or ten inches high, near thirty five years old, has a heavy black bead, large and long forehead, thin visage, remarkable long sharp nose, and having in one of his front teeth. any person who will find the above described boy, and return him or give any information, shall be liberally rewarded.
wm. b. boykin.
august 4th, 1859.—4 - 4w.
which piece of congressional legislation enforced the message of this advertisement and preserved slavery in the united states?
a. the missouri compromise of 1820
b. the wilmot proviso of 1846
c. the fugitive slave act of 1850
d. the kansas - nebraska act of 1854

Explanation:

The advertisement is for a runaway enslaved person, seeking their return. The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 required the return of runaway enslaved people, enforcing the system of slavery by compelling others to assist in capturing them. The Missouri Compromise (1820) dealt with slavery's expansion in new states, the Wilmot Proviso (1846) aimed to ban slavery in new territories (opposite of preserving slavery), and the Kansas - Nebraska Act (1854) introduced popular sovereignty for slavery in those territories, not directly about returning runaways. So the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 matches the advertisement's message of returning the enslaved person.

Answer:

C. the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850