Quote 1:
“By an act of the American Congress, not yet two years old, slavery has been nationalized in its most horrible and revolting form. By that act, Mason & Dixon’s line has been obliterated; New York has become as Virginia; and the power to hold, hunt, and sell men, women and children as slaves, remains no longer a mere state institution, but is now an institution of the whole United States” (Douglas, Fredrick 1852)
Paraphrase: Douglas mentions in his 1852 speech with the actions Congress have taken, slavery is being spread across the nation. It is as if Northern states like New York are now Southern states like Virginia. Slavery and all of it comes with, is part of the whole country.
Response: Douglas is saying that with the actions of Congress, every state is committing the same atrocities that were once a Southern thing, defending slavery.
Quote 2:
“Many of its most eloquent Divines. who stand as the very lights of the church, have shamelessly given the sanction of religion and the bible, to the whole slave system.—They have taught that man may, properly, be a slave; that the relation of master and slave is ordained of God;” (Douglas, Fredrick 1852)
Paraphrase: Douglas says in his speech that many people like to dedicate their lives to God and also use God as an excuse to justify slavery.
Response: I think Douglas believes that people try to find anything to justify slavery, and think its that it is a God given right.
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