Final answer:
The judge and community viewed the young man's act of assisting an abused slave to escape as an act of revenge against the slave owner, although his motives were compassionate, leading to his conviction and a three-year sentence.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context provided, it appears that the judge and others in the community believed that the young man on trial was a victim of his own compassion which led to his conviction as a slave stealer. He felt compelled to help an abused slave escape from the cruel Sam Briggs. Despite acting out of pity, the principles of the law were held higher than the individual's actions, and hence, he was sentenced to three years in the penitentiary. This act of aiding a slave was seen as an act of revenge against the slave owner by the community, but the young man's motive seems to have been more on humanitarian grounds rather than personal vendetta.