Final answer:
Mr. Covey bought a slave as a breeder in order to increase his wealth by expanding his slave labor force, reflecting the exploitation and moral corruption inherent in the institution of slavery.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mr. Covey, characterized in Frederick Douglass's Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, bought a slave for the purposes of breeding to increase his wealth through the expansion of his slave labor force. In the harrowing context of slavery, this was an economic calculation, treating humans as chattels to increase property holdings. Covey's actions reflect the morally reprehensible practices that were part of the systemic institution of slavery, viewing slaves as investment commodities whose reproductive capabilities could be exploited for profit. The practice of breeding slaves also illuminates a darker side of the institution, where forced relationships and sexual exploitation were used as a means to sustain and grow slave populations. Such actions signify the severe moral degradations and human rights abuses inherent in the system of slavery prevalent during that period in history.