I believe that Douglass is arguing for the rights of slaves in this speech. He is there representing all African Americans in the United States. He is arguing that someone’s skin color shouldn’t make them anything less of a man or a person.

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.”

Paraphrase: In Virginia, if a black man commits any of the seventy-two crimes, will be sentenced to death where a white man would only get sentenced to death for only two of these seventy-two crimes.

Response : By saying this, Fredrick is trying to show the audience the direct inequality and unfairness in the United States. The only reason for this drastic difference in sentencing in the color of one’s skin. He’s bringing awareness to those in the audience in case they weren’t aware.

Quote 2: “Is it not astonishing that, while we are ploughing, planting and reaping, using all kinds of mechanical tools, erecting houses, constructing bridges, building ships, working in metals of brass, iron, copper, silver and gold…”

Paraphrase: Do you not find it surprising that while we have many different occupations and jobs, we still have to show that we are a man, a person in the United States of America.

Response : When Fredrick says this, he is shedding light on the fact that slaves and black Americans perform all these different jobs, with no wage, while being beaten by their masters, being whipped so hard that their flesh rips off. They do all these jobs and yet slaves were considered property, they were not men or humans. He is trying to show that even after black Americans are in charge of doing these tasks, they aren’t even acknowledged as human beings.