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Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass
page 11 of 122 (09%)
continues, fled to his father's residence, where he still remains
unmolested."--Let it never be forgotten, that no slaveholder or overseer
can be convicted of any outrage perpetrated on the person of a slave,
however diabolical it may be, on the testimony of colored witnesses,
whether bond or free. By the slave code, they are adjudged to be as
incompetent to testify against a white man, as though they were indeed a
part of the brute creation. Hence, there is no legal protection in fact,
whatever there may be in form, for the slave population; and any amount
of cruelty may be inflicted on them with impunity. Is it possible for
the human mind to conceive of a more horrible state of society?

The effect of a religious profession on the conduct of southern masters
is vividly described in the following Narrative, and shown to be any
thing but salutary. In the nature of the case, it must be in the highest
degree pernicious. The testimony of Mr. DOUGLASS, on this point, is
sustained by a cloud of witnesses, whose veracity is unimpeachable. "A
slaveholder's profession of Christianity is a palpable imposture. He
is a felon of the highest grade. He is a man-stealer. It is of no
importance what you put in the other scale."

Reader! are you with the man-stealers in sympathy and purpose, or on the
side of their down-trodden victims? If with the former, then are you the
foe of God and man. If with the latter, what are you prepared to do
and dare in their behalf? Be faithful, be vigilant, be untiring in your
efforts to break every yoke, and let the oppressed go free. Come what
may--cost what it may--inscribe on the banner which you unfurl to the
breeze, as your religious and political motto--"NO COMPROMISE WITH
SLAVERY! NO UNION WITH SLAVEHOLDERS!"

WM. LLOYD GARRISON BOSTON, _May_ 1, 1845.
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