The New York herald., 1870-06-09
FoSTY-FIRsr CONGRESS-
Second Session.
SENATE
WASHINGTON, June 8. 1870.

WARRINGTON, June 8. 1870
IMPRIsONMENT OF AMERICANS IN DOMINICA.
Mr. FERRY, trep) OF Conn.,, presented memorial
from Mr.. Hatch, setting forth that his rights az
an American citizen had been violated in his un.
justinabie arrest imprisonment and sentence TO
death by the Dominican authorities and that his re-
lease was prevented by the n,erposilon Of General
Babcock, an oficer OF the United States Army, who
was acting az q commissioner for the annexation Of
81. Domingo. Mr.. Ferry commented upon the case,
asserting that General Babcock had stated that the
imprisonment OF Hatch was necessary to prevent him
from diyulging In Washington certain objections 20
the ratincation OF the Dominican treaty. II the
truth OF the assertion was shown General Babcock
deserved no longer TO pe an 0nicer Of the United
States. sr
Mr. SUMNER, trep) of Mass.-He ought to be
cashiered az once. rr
Mr.. FERRY moved the reference OF the matter to
the Committee on Foreign Relations, with instruc-
tlons TO send for persons and papers:
Mr. CHANDLER, trep OF Mich, SAID the man Hatch
was Troublesome, worthless scoundrel who, with
out any sort OF authority had given certificate 10
upon the Dominican goyerpmept and mad In various
ways ovoPega1ed with the rebels. He thought the
Mr. FERRY said Mr.. Hatch was a resident Of the
town in which he himself lived; that he knew hlm
ana would trust 10 his honor ana integrity quickly
as he would trust the senator from Michigan. Alter
the exceedingly vile language OF that gentleman u
was necessary word should be said IN defence OF
Mr.. Hatch. He proceeded 10 show that the autnorlty
lor the statement OF Mr.. Chandler would be shown
to 0e uniounded. .
sonal one, but Involving the grayer questions Of
an attempt OF an army oincer TO negotiate treaty
Of the United States, and tor that purpose lending
himself to machlnatlOn to keep an American clti-
zen in prison.
Mr.. NYE, (rep.) OF New, objected to the reference
to the Committee Foreign Relations, OF which Mr..
Sumner was chairman, IN view oil that Senator's as
serion that General Babcock should be cashered at
once. That language was unbecoming any man who
a As
him against the accused In advance OF hearing.
Mr.. SUMNER sad his remark implied considera-
ton OF al the facts In the case.
Mr.. NYE moved 10 refer the matter to a special
committee OF five TO be appointed by the Chair
The VICE PRESIDENT, IN putting the question: lie.
sired to be relieved from making the appointment,
but several Senators objected Mr. Morton remarking
tina; ~ had been invariably the custom OF the CHAR to
Mr. CARPENTER. rep.) of Wis. wanted full In
vestigarion, nut not by committee that had preju-
diced the case. He thought this 1T opportunity
for some investigation by the chairman OF the Com
mttee on Foreign Affairs-'the be-all and endall'
| OF that committee-into the wrongs upon American
citizens in Cuba.
Mr.. THAYER. trep) of Neb., was not to be drawn
into crusade against officer Of the government
upon sinister motives. He felt confident that Gen
| erai Bapcock would come out OF the investigation
unscathcd, and that the charges would be proved
Mr. CAMERON, trep.) of Pa m ember OF the Com
| mltee on Foreign Relations, hoped that the commit
tee would not be charged with the investigation,
| they had already considered the st. Domingo ques
ton in another phase. He said that while holding
position under the government he himself had been
censured by his own friends In the House OF Repre-
sentaves for doing certain acts; that that censure
stood on record yet and PROBABLY always would, to
his injury, notwiths anding the tnen President Of
the United States, IN his sense OF justlce sent
sage to the House stating that the very acts COM
planned OF were done by mis- order and under his
direction. II was now proposed TO do the same thing
with General babcock, who was acting under orders
OF the President. That officer was one OF the miidest
men he had ever known. and the charge against him
would doubtless be dlsproved
| Mr.. PATTERSON rep.l Of n H., q member Of the
| CHAIRMAN (Sumnerl was the be-al and end-a OF
| that committee, and reminded the senator from
Wisconsin lMr Carpenterl that each member OF that
| measure coming before them. AS to the st. Do
| mlngo treaty he believed they were nearly equally
| divided, TWO. anu perhaps tnree members being
favorable To IL. he protested against tile injustice
,nii,oted upon the Foreign Conniittee
Mr.. CARPENTER inquired what was the injustice
Mr.. PATTERSON replied that 1t was the remark of
| Mr. Carpenter ana Others that the committee had
| committed Itself upon me dominican treaty when
| the committee had not uttered one word concern
inElt. ~, ann uon o,vo o,oo,o, .. n,... .,o
investigation in the hands OF the Foreign Commit
tee as possibly leading 10 double purpose the i'm
peachment OF General Babcock and defeat of the Do
| mincan treaty.
Mr.. SUMNER defended the committee from the as
| sault which, he said. had been made upon 1t. He
said the was one OF an American citizen swell
t.ring in tropical prison to Carry out the machina
tions OF an American oilicer. He refe red TO the
| composition OF the Committee on Foreign Relations
as proof OF its integrity and ntimated that the pub
lie reports In connection with the subject demanded
attention.
MIR. SCOTT (rep.) Of Pa. said II information OF the
conduct Of the agents Of the President the United
States was needed some other means OF obtaining II
snOuld be resOrted TO. II the Senate required fur.
ther light for Its guidance In raifyng the treaty ID
might obtain 1t more really than by this indirect
way OF assaing the President. He could not agree
to that part OF the resolution authorizing the send
Ing for persons and papers, because under it the
Sergeantrat Arms might be sent TO st. Domingo for
witnesses when 1t might be entirely useless to send
anything less than competent naval force for that
| purpose.
| Mr.. Upton (rep.t OF Neb. took the position that
when an investigation like that proposed was asked
tor by fellow Senator he considered his duty
e. cRyl q t. WHO ne eiXAmgat2n a was to be made
Mr.. THAYER inquired or Mr.. Ferry whether he had
| ever presented his complaints against General Bah
COCK to the Secretary or State or the President.
| Mr.. FERRY replied that he had never made any
complaint against General Babcock. and did not now
make any. He said the facts he had stated in con
nectiOn with thatofcer had come to his notice incl
ss fights an xmescan s0 ym Sassi ssidennoe
| in his possession he believed every word OF the
charges TO be true, and he also believed that within
| q week the Senator from Nebraska would acknow-
| ledge their truthfQlpess.
| Mr.. THAYER Said his friend (Mr. Ferry had heard
only one Side OF the case, ana upon that mad avowed
| his conviction that the charge true. He (Mr.
teTryl 1Sa @ premucsa ~ tne case ana was now anxious
out as commissioner by the President General
Babcock was responsible for his official acts only to
the President. The first duty Of the Senator from
Connecticut was TO give the President an opportu-
nifty to have the acts or his commissioner invesgat
! ed. Why did the Senator ride over the President
and bring the matter directly TO the Senator II the
President had tailed TO secure redress after being
acquainted with the facts then the Introduction Of
| the matter in the Senate might have been proper
Had the Senator ever asked for any redress for the
| wrongs complained of
Mr.. FERRY GnterrnptlnR) said--lf the Senator (Mr
| Thayer) would only be patient and wait until the
committee was appointed, If appointed at ALL all ne
| cessary information would he forthcoming. He tMr
| Ferry had on his desk the papers bearing upon
the point suggested, but did not now desire to con-
| sumo the time Of the Senate by elaborate expla-
nation. The Senator would ascertain at the proper
time since last December efforts had been made
to obtain the release OF Mr.. Hatch, which efforts
were successful some time In May, and he would as
certain that there was abundant reason for the pre-
sentatiOn of the memorial Of Mr.. Hatch to the Sen
ate. His own judgment, in view Of all the circum-
stances, was that the course which had been taken
on presentation of the memorial to the Senate was
proper and justifiabe.
Mr.. THAYER rose to reply, but yielded the floor
upon request by Mr.. HOWE to take vote, as it
was nearly two O'Clock.
During the debate the morning hour expired but
the regular orders were laid aside informally by an
Overwhelming utvG uoce VOTE in order TO dispose Of