Excerpt from a speech by Frederick Douglass, July 5, 1852 ...Who can reason on such a proposition (as the validity of slavery)?  They that can, may; I cannot.  The time for such argument is past. At a time like this, scorching irony, not convincing argument, is needed. O! had I the ability, and could I reach the nation's ear, I would, today, pour out a fiery stream of biting ridicule, blasting reproach, [...]