Uncle Tom replied to Simon Legree saying he did not know where the run away slaves were hiding. He chose to prioritize his integrity and fidelity to his beliefs rather than betray his fellow slaves.
If they were slaves, then they were runaways! You probably mean How did freed blacks prove they weren't slaves.
50,000 slaves died while they were runaways
In the scene, Stowe portrays Simon Legree as a cruel and tyrannical plantation owner who mistreats his slaves through violence and intimidation. He is depicted as a symbol of the worst aspects of slavery, using fear and brutality to maintain control over his slaves.
Simon Legree is a fictional character from Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin." He is portrayed as a cruel and merciless slave owner known for his brutal treatment of slaves, particularly Uncle Tom. Legree represents the epitome of the evil and inhumane nature of slavery.
They were "runaways", because they were slaves who had run away from their 'masters'.
Frederick Douglas
Harriet Tubman
they demeanded the immediate imancipation of slaves
The risk of heavy fines or jail for not reporting runaways.
They allowed landowners to own slaves.
I think they were hiding in their homes because they were black