Villains or heroes?

[Shhhh! I'm Listening to Reason!]

I'm reading a book on the underground railroad. The people who made up
this railroad broke federal law each and every time they helped a
slave escape to Canada. There was a stiff fine and six months in jail
if caught. In fact, some slave owners had bounties on the heads of
railroad leaders.

The thought occurred to me: in 2pid's black-or-white world, were these
people traitors to their country? After all, they were breaking
federal law! Did this show a 'lack of integrity' on their part?

I realized that these people were heroes to me. In the best tradition
of Christian service, and in the best traditions of service in the US
(2pid, you get a pass here as you wouldn't know about that), they put
the good of others ahead of their own personal safety, comfort and
well-being. They risked their own freedom so that others could enjoy
it. I found that they were exactly like soldiers in this regard
(another pass, 2pid).

Recognizing that they had broken federal law, though, left me with a
feeling that my 'moral compass' must be 'broken'.

So how about it, 2pid? Were these people heroes or villains? Were they
'traitors'? Were they 'treasonous'?

What do you suppose Fox News would have said?

LoL.