Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-06-26
DOMINICA.
Report Of the Congressional COMMITTEES on
the Case OF Gen. Hatch.
He Is Entirely Ex0nerated and Fully Sus.
talHed and bis Imprisonment by the Do
minIeaH Government Condemned.

| WASHINGTON, June Ex-senator How
ard, this morning, from the select Com
\ mittee on the memorial Of David Hatch.
presented report, concluding IS follows :
Inc majority have come to the conclu-
sion, which they announce with pleasure,
that although it has been openly asserted
IN the Senate that Gen, BabcOck was
guilty OF misconduct. they are
satisfied that the charge was un-
founded and that he conducted
himself throughout with perfect honesty
and sincerity. They look in vain for any
! evidence OF any insincerity on his part.
or any misstatement or prevarication
His whole conduct has been marked with
truth, honor and fidelity, and the whole
evidence leaves him without stain, and
we would be untrue to our own convic-
tons If we did not apply TO Generals In
golls and Sacket, who accompanied him,
and dndeed, aided in negotiations, like
commendgtion and we take pleasure in
expressing cur conviction, after weigh
ing all the facts and circumstances within
our knoWledge, that in its negotiation
and preparation, the treaty is free from
any frauds or unfairness, and that the
agents and employees of their respeo-
tive Governments have all acted
with becoming rankneGa,
1t is not permissible In as to express in
this public manner an opinion of the
merits of the treaty or the course which
the Senate should adopt in regard to IT,.
as the agents engaged in its mediation
have been charged with corrupt motives
and improper conduct. We deem it appro-
pirate TO say that we dsan the accusation
as unfounded. The COMMITTEES, in review
Ing Hatchss claims, say that had he been
wantonly seized and subjected to a mere
mock trial and condemned without q
hearing, and without testimony; in short
had he been treated with manifest wan
toness, tyranny and nrueltsSS they could
net hesitate to recommend demand for
satisfaction; but facts do not show such
wss ths character of the proceedings, bnt
that they were on the nnnI.:srarv in aceor-
dance with the laws Of The re-
public. The committee therefore
see No ground for this branch
OF his claim to prove the loss Of his prop
erty. He presents no other evidence than
his own statement, to which he has
omitted to make oath; but to admit his
statement as true, it does not follow, un-
der ordinary circumstances, that he hiss !
a valid claim for damages for that which |
occurred as part of the ordinary circum- |
stances of war, because he was an
admitted enemy Of the Baez Gov |
ernment, according to the testimony.
Ex-Commmercial Agent Smith Hatch /
has been engaged in other illicit traffic at 1
Barbara. The Danish vessel Roatt was |
consigned from st. Thomas TO Mr. Hatch, |
at Barbara, and was undoubtedly en- |
gagged in illicit traffic, to which Mr.. Hatch |
connived. She was seized, condemned |
and sold by the Dominican government. /
That person so situated should make |
against the Governments he |
was thus offending, seemed singular, |
from what is before us. We cannot pre- |
sumo Mr.. Hatch had or has now any |
ground for claim for indemnitication. He |
was damaged, a fact which it is not ncces- |
sary to deny. It was his misfortune, |
growing cut of bis own fault, and without |
to say that he can establish no |
6rst claim against the Government of /
Dominica. We are constrained to say
we are not able to see its Justice, and that |
at any rate, his application to Congress in |
this behalf is premature. We cannot |
but regard this unusual course as an at /
tempt by Mr.. Hatch in making his al |
legged grievances public, to prevent a |
fair consideration Of the treaty of annex |
alton, and TO arouse UnfOundeG preiu- |
dices against 1t. His course svinees |
4 want of that candor which |
should characterize every American citi- /
zen abroad in the matter in which his /
is concerned and loved and |
that passionate 0lamors against individu- /
ais, blind surmises and personal pidue |
are nOI LuS uIoADB proper 10 De exercised 4
TO influence our Judgments. The Com !
mittee, therefore, recommend that Mr.. |
Hatch's petition be indefinitely post |
poned.
(Signed) J. W. NYE.
J. NJ. HOWARD.
G. @. WILLIAMS.
-F g57R. WIN. s. WARNER.
The miBo4SSSs.-A.fbmitted their report, /
as follows:
Whereas, David Hatch, an American
,itizen, was unjust1y imprisoned by the
Government Of the Dominica Republic |
or a considerable period Of time, and in
of such imprisonment was
to great inconvenience, suffer
ny and pecuniary loss, and
Whereas, The treatment Of David
Hatch, as this Government is officially
by Mr.. M. NJ. Garteen, Seore-
ary OF State Of the Dominican Govern
nent, was owing to the apprehension en-
ertained by the Government that David |
Hatch, II set at liberty, would
exercise An injurious influence
With regard to the treaty of annexation /
II the Dominican Republic to the United |
Statesi and whereas, they constitute a
.ross outrage on Mr.. Hatch and an indig-
lity to his Republic; therefore
RESOLVED, etc., That the President be
to demand of the Republic of
Dominica full reparatiOn for the suffering
nd losses Of Davis Hatch aforesaid.
Laid on the table and ordered to be
,rintad