The Public Record
Frederick Douglass was an American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman. He was "the most important leader of the movement for African-American civil rights in the 19th century".
It was quite natural for Master Thomas to presume I was feigning sickness to escape work, for he probably thought that were he in the place of a slave, with no wages for his work, no praise for well-doing, no motive for toil but the lash…
Do you dare to contradict me, you rascal?” was a final silencer of counter-statements from the lips of a slave.
The word of the slave against this presumption was generally treated as impudence, worthy of punishment.
The guilt of a slave was always and everywhere presumed, and the innocence of the slaveholder, or employer, was always asserted.
I must not assert my innocence of the allegations he had piled up against me, for that would be impudence.
After thus fairly annihilating me, and arousing himself by his eloquence, he fiercely demanded what I wished him to do in the case!
He began moderately by finding excuses for Covey, and ended with a full justification of him, and a passionate condemnation of me.
At first Master Thomas seemed somewhat affected by the story of my wrongs, but he soon repressed whatever feeling he may have had, and became as cold and hard as iron.
In this plight I appeared before my professedly Christian master, humbly to invoke the interposition of his power and authority, to protect me from further abuse and violence.
Nevertheless, I resolved to go straight to him, thinking that, if not animated by motives of humanity, he might be induced to interfere on my behalf from selfish considerations.
The monster had obtained complete control over me, and if he had commanded me to do any possible thing I should, in my then state of mind, have endeavored to comply.