The discussion of slavery is as free now in New Orleans
as in New York_. It is no more within the province of the military
Governor, Shepley, to interfere with fair discussion there, than it
is within the rightful power of the civil Governor, Seymour, to
interfere with it here. _And in the Border States, where the civil
laws still prevail, hostility to the rebellion has excited such a
dissatisfaction with slavery as its cause, that by general consent
perfect freedom is allowed in arguing against the institution._ The
consequence of this freedom has been that Missouri has already
determined to abolish it; Maryland and Delaware have put declared
emancipationists in places of their highest trusts by unprecedented
majorities; and Kentucky is visibly casting about to see how she
can best rid herself of the curse.
'_We say, then, that even if the National Government had the right
to institute new civil measures against slavery, it would not be
necessary. The unavoidable military operations of the war, and the
free discussion which is sure to attend it, are enough of
themselves to break down the institution. The Government has simply
to stand quiet, and let these agencies work_.'
The italics are our own, inserted for the sake of more easy reference.
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