The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-06-28

in March, 1870, explained that the cOuLln'
ued Imprisonment OF Hatch was on
account of his connection with par
ties uufriendly to San Domingo,
and his disposition to exert his influence
there on public opinion detrimental tothe
interests Of the Dominican Government.
The Committee show that Babcock re.
fused to have anything to do with an
American citizen so held in prison, ana
declined to speak Il word for q person so
outraged, and went even so far as to omit
all inquiry concerning the reasons for
which that citizen was held captive, while
a few minutes investigation would have
convinced himthat the only thing which
was considered proof Of that captve's
guilt did not exist on the record, and tina:
his trial, sentence and continued incarce-
ration after his pardon, were barbarous
outrages from beginning to end: The mi
noritY, after referring to the motives which
must have induced Babcock TO thus refuse
TO intcrcede for Hatch, proceeded toshow
that he had manifested disposition to
construe his instructions literally. he
took an active part in the pursuit Of the
steamer TELEGRAPH, while his instructions
were quite silent on that subject. That
he signed the preliminary protocol treaty,
in which he introduced himself as abide:
camp to the President and his special
agent, and in the first article Of which he
explicitly pledges the President privately
to the use Of all his influence in order that
the idea OF the annexation Of the Dominl;
can Republic may acquire such degree
OF popularity among Congressman as
would be necessary for its accomplish.
mGnt, and TO make no communication 70
that body until he shall be certain 1t would
be approved by majority, The minorl'
ty thinks this Unprecedented in an ald.de-
camp, and the fact that whatever his sew
eral instructions were his written instruc-
tions empowered him only to gather intor-
nation and not enter into any agreement
at all. Many think it singular that going
so far beyond his instructions as to comprO.
misc the name Of the President, he should
have been prevented by any feeling OF deli
cacy from intGrceding in behalf otan Amer
lean citizen Of high character, held in
duress after having been pardoned.
Neither can the committee, from BabcOck's
own admission, avoid the conclusion that
ali the influence used with regard to
Hatch's case, was invariably directed
against the incarcerated man, while the
sHbsubstantial evidence leaves but little
room for doubt as to the correctness Oh
Perrys statements on this subject, Inc
minority submit the following points from
tho evidence: First, Hatch, an American
citizen Of irreproachable character, was
arrested by the Dominican authorities on
q charge Of having aided party OF revo-
lutionists, he was tried by military COM
mission and sentenced to be shot. The
record Of the trial shows the whole pro
ceedines to have been abarbarous and n
farce. Second, Hatch was pardoned on
condition that he would leave the coun-
try, BY decree of the Dominican Senate,
officially published October 4, 1869.
Third, Hatch was, in spite Of that decree,
kent in prison till tho middle OF March,
1870. Fourth, BaeZ, and his Secretary oil
State, the latter in an official note, ad-
dressed to the Representative Of the
United States, stated as the reason for
Hatch's continued imprisonment after
pardon, that it was feared he would IN
lure the annexation scheme II set free.
Fifth, Commercial agents Of the United
States Smith and Perry, used every means
in their power to procure the release OF
Hatch. Sixth, Babcock was sent to San
Domingo, as special agent for the gov
crnment, and having authority to give di,
rections to war vessels of the United
States in Dominican matters for the pro-
lection of the Baez government against
foreign interference, not only declined to
speak a single word in favor OF the re-
lease of Hatch, but also discouraged others
from doing so. The minority believe that,
aside from Hatch's pecunlary losses, he Is
in consideration OF. the treatment he
received at the hands Of the Domini.
ca Government, entitled 10 liberal
PREPARATION, and they cannot close
this report without declaring their
most emphatic dissent from the. po-
sition taken by the majority, that the I'M
prIsonmcnt Of IN American citizen abroad,
on the grounds that he might exercise an
Injurious influence, in this or that way,
with regard 10 the acquisition Of public
interest, can be justified or excused under
the circumstances. They rejected it as
doctrine repugnant to free institutions, and
unprecedented in the history Of this Re
public. They desire, also, to designate
the insinuati0n contained in the majority
report that this Investigation is Instituted
for the purpose 0fRssailipg the Executive
branch of the Government as uncallcd for
and frivolous. They would be sorry to
think the Executive would Construe Us IN
attack fair investigation into the conduct
of his agents. The report is signed by
Senators SChurz and Ferry and concludes
with the following resolutions ..l
WHEREAS, Davis Hatch, an American
citizen, has been unjustly imprisoned by
the Government Of the Dominican Repub.
lie for considerable period Of timei and
In consequence Of such imprisonment was
subjected TO great Inconvenience, suffer
ing and peCmiary loss; and whereas, the
treatment of Davis Hatch, as this Govern.
ment is officially informed by Mr.. M. NJ.
Gautier, the Secretary OF State of the
Dominican Government was owing toan
apprehension entertained by that Govern
meut that Davis Hatch, If set ut liberty,
would exercise an injurious influence with
regard to the treaty anne&ing tue Domln-
lean republic to tho United States, and,
whereas, this constitutes a gross outrage
to Mr.. Hatch and indignity to this repub'
lie; therefore,
Be ii ReSOlned, etc., That the President
be requested to demand Of the Republic Of
Dominica full repatriation for the suffering
aud Iouana nf Davis Hatch M Aforesaid