Quote #1

“There are seventy-two crimes in the State of Virginia, which if committed by a black man, (no matter how ignorant he be,) subject him to the punishment of death; while only two of the same crimes will subject a white man to the like punishment.”

In this quote, Douglass is showing how unright the justice system is by claiming if a black man committed many crimes his punishment would be death however if a white man were to commit those same crimes the penalties would be much laxer.

Quote #2

“Would you have me argue that man is entitled to liberty? that he is the rightful owner of his own body? You have already declared it. Must I argue the wrongfulness of slavery? Is that a question for Republicans?”

In this quote, Douglass is arguing is it wrong for a slave to be entitled to his own life. Why should they live to serve another person just because they were born of different skin color? Why should slaves be uneducated while the white man can read as many books as he loves and be educated in any field he so pleases.