New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-05-23
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PROFESSION AND PRACTICE.

We showed, the other day, that however fair
spoken and conservative the Black Republican
party may be, judged by the platform adopted at
Chicago, that platform, nevertheless, was not a
correct index Of their future designs and ultimate
intentions Professions, whether in public affairs
or private, are OF no value unless sustained by
practice. The Black Republican party is not en-
titled to claim the Chicago Platform as correct
exposition Of its legislative policy; for the history
Of the party shows too plainly that their views are
far more extended than Is professed, and look uti
mately to SO crippling the Institution of slavery
that its eventual overthrow and final destruction
will be easy Of accomplishment
In truth, we find but little of variance between
the policy Of this party, as proclaimed at Chicago,
and that which is accepted by almost the entire
Democratic party of the North Upon one point
only Of practical legislation. do we find any actual
disagreement The Republican party fayors the
prohibition Of slavery in the Territories by direct
Congressional interpostion, while the Northern
Democracy assert that the people Of the Territories
may prohibit it, if they choose, by the mere force
Of numbers. According to the opinions of the
great bulk Of the Democratic party at the South,
there is not much of practical difference between
these two positions Wise, of Virginia, even
having gone SO far as to assert that the position Of
the Northern Democracy on this question is
nothing less than g short cut to all the ends of
Black Republicansm.i'
When we come to look at the other articles Of
the Republican creed, we find but little to distin-
guish them from those entertained by the Northern
| Democracy. They both declaim against disunion,
and deny the right Of secession. A leading Demo-
| cratic member Of Congress, from Wisconsin
| Judge Larabee-in a speech made during the
present session. denied the right of the South to
secede from the Union, and went 20 far as to say
that for himself he owed his highest allegiance to
| the Union, instead Of to his own State. Thus do
we see blow struck at the doctrine of State SOW
ereignty by Democratic hands, and thus do we
| find Northern Democracy yieing with Black Re.
publicanism in denying to tie Southern States the
very essence Of States Rights.
| So, also, the Chicago Convention denounces the
| late Lecompton Constitution of Kansas, and, in
this, is sustained beyond doubt by fourfths Of the
/ Northern Democracy. They declare for the imme.
| date admission OF Kansas; and the other day
4 nearly every Northern Democrat so voted, in de-
fiance of the unanimous protest of the Democracy
Of the South They express their approval of the
Homestead bill and their.opposition to any change
in the laws Of naturalization. In both Of these
positions thay are cordially sustained by ths
Northern Democracy. They are for a railway te
the Pacific, but all parties there are for sectiona
railway, and for diverting the trade Of the Pacific
coast, if possible into Northern channels. There
is no difference Of opinion between the two partie
| upon the propriety Of granting the right Of suf
frage to nnnaturalized foreigners, nor the expe
diency of monster schemes Of internal improve
ment by the Federal Government
1t is difficult, therefore, to see why there shoulS
be so violent an antagonsm between the tw,
parties in tile Northwestern States, when it seem
that both are laboring to accomplish the same oh
iects. Northern men sometimes wonder ther
should be two parties at the South-but IT
equally wonderful to us that there should be tw
at the North, unless upon the suppositon that th
Black Republicans do not mean what they profess
and the Democracy do. The Southern Democrac
are at variance with their Northern brethren nc
only upon the question Of slavery in the Terrific
ries, but almost upon every measure Of practice
legislation now before Congress, or likely to com
before it. And these things, equally as much a
the question of squatter Sovereignty and the pei
sonal opposition to the man, contrived to defes
Mr.. Douglas at Charleston, and to rend in twain
never more to be reunited upon prnciple-tb
once invncible National Democratic party.