The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-06-27
MONDAY, JUNE 81, 1870.
THE SAN DOMINGO MUDDLE

ances of David Hatch, an American citizen
who, according to his own report, has been
most cruelty treated by Baez, the President
of the Dominican republic, with the conni-
vance of the agent of our own Government
who negotiated the treaty of annexation.
The story of Hatch's tribulations has been
mixed up pretty extensively with damaging
rumors of gross irregularities in the manage
ment of the San Domingo treaty. and Hatch
himself complains that ne has been i'm
prisoned, sentenced to death, and otherwise
cruelty treated, solely because it was feared
he might damage the schemes of the annexa-
tonists if he were allowed to remain at
liberty and tell all he knew about the matter.
Neither the majority nor minority reports
of the committee presented on Saturday are
altogether satisfactory, although they are
lengthy and go over considerable ground.
OF the two the minority statement, signed by
Senators Schurz and Ferry, appears to ap-
proach good deal nearer to the truth of the
matter than that of the majority, which looks
very much like an attempt to whitewash the
villainies of the treaty ''ring." The minority
contend that Hatch, by taking up his resi-
dence in San Domingo, made himself ame-
nable to the laws of the country, and that, as
he was tried and convicted before a regular
tribunal of giving aid and comfort to
Cabral and his party of rev olutionists at
time when Baez was firmly seated in power,
and committing other offenses of a like
character, he had no right to ask the United
States to protect him from any punishment
that his judges chose to inflict. Hatch was
I0,,t
afterwards commuted to Punishment from the
country. He charges, however, that, instead
of being sent back to the United States, he
was still detained in prison mainly through
the interference of the agents of the United
States connected with the negotiation of the
annexation treaty. With regard to General
Babcocks alleged action in this matter,
the majority state that they can find nothing
to convict him of any improperly, or to show
that he was in any way implicated in the
detention of Hatch. This part of the report
is very far from satisfactory. There appears to
be an evident desire to exonerate him and
those associated with him in the negotiation
of the treaty, more for the purpose of leaving
the impression that the negotiations were free
from fraud, and that therefore the treaty
ought to be accepted, than to demonstrate
Babcocks innocence or to secure impartial
Justice for Hatch. Indeed, the greater portion
of the report is plain and undisguised puff
for the treaty, and the evident desire to press
it upon the favorable notice of the Senate,
together with the fact that at least one of the
members of the majority of the committee
Senator Howard, has been openly mentioned
as being one of the 'ring," will prevent this
report from being accepted with the utmost
confidence by the country.
Senators Schurz and Ferry in their state
ment of the case dissent from the maj jority in
every important point of fact. They submit
that the testimony proves Mr.. Hatch to be
gentleman of irreproachable character, and
that there is no evidence whatever to prove
that he was implicated in any way with the
contending factions of San Domingo. Hatch
was intimate with Cabral and was at Barajona
while it was in possession of that chief This
was the ground upon which Baez made his
accusation against him, and when Barajona
fell into the hands of the Baez party, Hatch
was arrested, tried, and condemned, as has
been stated. His real offense, however, was
that he considered Baez to be a dangerous
man, and had written articles in 1868 to some
of the American papers rejecting upon him,
Baez being at that time a fugitive from the
island.
The allegation against General Babcock
the minority consider to be fully sustained by
the testimony of Colonel Perry, and by the
facts with regard to his own conduct that
were admitted by him or proved by other
witnesses before the committee, and they ar
rive at the following conclusions with regard
to the case:-
'First Hatch, an American citizen of irreproach-
able character, was arrested by the Dominican
authorities on a charge of having aided party OF
reYOlutiOnsts He was tried by military COMMITS
sion and sentenced be shot, but the OF the
trial shows the whole proceeding was barbarous
farce.
that he would leave the country by decree of the
Dominican Senate, officlally published October 4,
1869.
'Thrd Hatch was, in spite of that decree, kept in
prison until the middle OF March, 1870.
"FouTth President Baez and his Secretary OF
State, Gautier, in official note addressed to the
representatives OF the United States stated as the
reason OF Hatch's continued incarceration after a
the annexation scheme If 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, sent TO st. Domingo as special
agent OF this Government, and having authority TO
give directions to war vessels OF the United ates
In Dominican waters for the protection OF Baez's
Government against foreign interference, not only
declined 10 speak 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
pecuniary losses he is in consideration Of the treat
ment he received at the hands OF the Dominican
Government entitled TO liberal reparatlon. They
cannot close their report without declaring thelI
the majority. that the Imprisonment OF an American