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

be tolerated But if T,sSGstaasd, they are weight,
enough to fall back upon any politician who utter
them, and grind him to powder! The politician
who, in the madness of party spirit, ventures sucl
Language, plays desperate and fearful game.
Mr.. Severance sustains this language solely in tn
assertion that TtrGs does not sreRd 10 the Del NoTts
This assertion is the whole substance of his defence
When the question is of "GPPIauding and honor
ing" the shedders Of American blood, a patriotic
man, or even prudent man, would find othe
things in this case worth remembering Our an
cient claim to the regon-the color of law which
our claim is admitted to possess-the refusal oil
Mexico to negotiate-the crossing OF the rVer by
the Mexicans and the attack commenced by The
Mexcans-all these things, together with the long
muster roll of Mexican outrages heretofore, would,
| we humbly conceive make prudent politician hes
itate before he "GPpIaudsd and hOnOrsd' the Mex
| can army for numbering Colonel Cross and Lieu
tenant Porter, and shooting down the detaehments
of Captain Thornton and Captain Hardee! But
Mr. Severance seems to be above such censidera-
tons.
With him the position of the two armies is every
thing. He thinks the Mexicans were on Msriean
soil, and giving his country's enemies largely be
benefit of his doubt, he "honors" and "applauds"
their work Of butchery
Now if this palliaton, such as it 49, should utterly
fail him, how he ever afer this day stand
up anywhere and look an American citizen in the
face Was the conflict, then, on Mexican or
Texan soil Texas, be it remembered, is claimed
to be revolted province Of Mexico Whether
Mexico ever had shadow of rightful or actual au-
thority over it, after the Mexican constitution Of
1924 went down, may be, and has been seriously
questioned. But Mexico claims that Texas Is her
reyolted province. What then, Is the very best pos.
sbls svidsnes Of the extent Of Texas Clearly, it 10
the treaty stpualiOns Of MsEieO and The official GdmS
sion Of .uerieo since The rsUOA. Now we say, first
Santa Ana in secret treaty recognised the lndepend
ence of Texas up to the Del Norte. We say, sec
ondly, that, in lS45, Mexico offered to recognise
the Independence Of Texas up to the Del Norte
We say, thirdly, that, in 1884, General VOL pro-
claimed his purpose to devasate the territory the
east bank ofths Del .Norts as Tsran territory And
we say, further that each and all Of these decara-
tions on the part of the Mexican government are
matters Of record. So much for the admissions Of
Mexico on the question.
What is the merit best evidence Of the extent Of
Texas Doubtless it is the legislation and the de-
carations of Texas herself when she drew the sword
Mr.. Severance admits that all these, including the
present Texan constitution, carry her territory to
the Del Norte. What is the merit best possible evl.
dence in the case Unquestionably the legislation
which has brought Texas into our own system Of
States. Here, too, Mr.. Severance admits that the
case is against him-that we have a congressional
district and revenue district extending to the Del
Norte. What is the merit best evidence in the case
Il is to be found in the State papers of this county
the records ofits diplomacy from the day when the
Louisiana territory became with US a subject Of
discussion. We have already shown that an un-
broken series of State papers the signatures of
Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, and Adams, claim the
Del Norte the boundary Of Texas. We have re-
Gently cited the direct authority Of Mr. Henry Clay
to the same point.
Against all these parios orders-these successive
araia-of proof, and against all this mass ofauthori-
ty, Mr.. Severance asserts that the Del Norte is
not III. true boundary and follows up his assertion by
vote refusing all succor and supply TO our army in
its extremity, and by letter proclamng that
the Mexicans should be "apptuudsd and hOnorsd for
putting our soldiers to death.
We know Of words which can deepen the
impression Of this fact the public mind Taken
in all its bearings it to US without parallel in
the annals of partisan phrenzy and guilt 1t has
been said half in jest half in earnest that the hardy
and patriotic State of Maine, $50 worthiy represent
Congress- has for her chief exports granite and
zee. They must be the staples, we think, of Mr..
Severance's district. He stands for them on the
floor of Congress. He has embodied their quail
ties in this his memorable vote. In its sympathy
for soldiers, we behold the granite; and in the
temperature of its patriotism, we feel the ice.