The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-19
OFFICIAL APOLOGY.

The Hon. Luther Severance one OF the whlg
representatives in whom the democratic State Of
Maine does NOT rejoice has lately taken up the pen
in the columns of the ntelligeneer, to inform the
public why he Joined the IMMORTAL FOURTEEN in
voting against his country in relation to the Mexi-
ssa war Mr, Severance says he could not get a
chance to speak his reasons, he trrites them. We
ry WE'LL we do not blame him; such vote did surely
need an apology-unsrptained it has a pery awk-
ward look. AT any rate, he has torittsn his explana
ton; and now we propose TO give him the full ben
eft of it. such as is Here is the gst Of Mr.. Sew
sranoe's explanation in his own words: ~ had no
objection 10 poie any supplies necessary for The relief Of
our arny, but regardthe rery first line Of The bill as
palpabk p,isssaien,en 81 faet. believe the Mexi-
cans upon ths Rio Grande haus been acting strictly in
sB d,Jsmos, and, if they haze made manly resist
ance to Gen Taylor they are to be honored and ap-
pauded for doing So"
Mark, in the Rrst place, the feverheat of the gen
tleman's patriotism General Taylor and his SOL
ders. under the order of the Executive which they
may not disobey, go to make defence on a GER
tain line, which they are commanded to regard as
our boundary, and to occupy certain, region af-
both Texan and American, to be our soil. militia
ry despotism Of yesterday, usurping power an the
Mexican government, repels, perfdiously and
with contumely, our proHered negotiation, mus
ters a large army on the boundary line, sends a
force across the line by stealth, and waiting in am
buscade, kills at their posts many of our brave
officers and men as it can lay hands on--hems our
army in, cuts of communication with the military
depot, and waits for starvation to commence the
work Of destruction among our soldiers, which mas
sacrr is to eonpisie just 81 as famine shall
have made them safe aud easy preyi The Presi-
dent goes at once to Congress with this intelli-
gence-asks for authority, and funds to send some
volunteers to the rescue, and intimates that this
state Of things is war!
Thsn comes the ''giOrio's hour" Of Mr.. Severance.
He does not speak "the applause Of listening sem
ates to command" perhaps he cannot get chance;
perhaps he has not, at the moment, much 10 say.
There are some moods of mind and some occasions
which silence BELTS. Charity would shroud them
IN pail. Mr.. Severance does not speak, but
he votes; and his vote is: "Not a mani" "Not a
dollar!" "Let them starve!" "Let them taste the
sword, and de7 Such is that vote-that mute
vote--the vote Of the FOURTEEN--the vote al
ready "damned tn everlasting fame"--the vote
which this whole nation ,oii remember, and should
remember frthfatay, till all its pulses cease to hrob
When the deed is done, Mr.. Severance has his
qualms. So he writes down his reasons He had
mo objection" to give some supplies but unfortu-
natey, the preamble no; to his tastel Our SOL
ders might take care Of themselves-live or
die, as it .happensd-hs took his stand on
his preamble. Well, now he does stand on il
like Simeon Stylites--the fanatic of another day.
his pillar Of penitenee, exposed to the lowering
heaven and the piiless' storm Of righteous popular
Indignation! Perhaps the worthy gentleman likes
his position.
Mr.. Severance permits himself to say tina,
the Mexicans, in crossing the river to waylsy
our soldiers, and in cutting them to pieces, wer,
acting strictly In .lj=d,tsnet," and that they
""Ts 10 Be honOr,d and rppIaudsd for doing So" !
e no light matter, at this crisis, to utter such
words They bring tremendous responsibility
' they can be fully proved beyond ell p.rsavsnturs
however they CRATE on the popular e,u, they may