Final answer:
Without proper context or reference to the story in which Jim's dad releases Edward, it's impossible to provide a reason for this action based on the provided excerpts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question "Why did Jim's dad release Edward?" seems to refer to a narrative, possibly from a novel or a story, given the characters mentioned. However, with the provided excerpts, it's not entirely clear which text or story is in question, as neither fits the details of Edward being released by Jim's father. The first excerpt suggests a family scene with characters named Wendy, Peter, and their parents but does not provide context about Edward. The second excerpt refers to potential reasons for releasing someone, such as enduring cruelty from an enslaver, having lived in free states, or the risk of a family being torn apart, but again, without context, it is impossible to determine the relationship to Jim, his father, or Edward.
Thus, with the information provided, it is not possible to determine why Jim's dad released Edward. To give an accurate answer, more context from the story or text in question would be necessary.