New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-01-27

up 10 her owner On her arrival here question arose
ID tho regularity OF her papers, nc BRUSH reS~'of
having been substituted for papers from
Government Of the Dominican Republic. mo owhor'
expecting impartial judgment where theirs "ofo
no mercantile interests oonHictngIwitb Santo Domingo
ordered her 10 Torto where she arrived the 18th jay
1902 Baes through his Consul In st. Thomas entered
complaint against her OF piracy. upon which farringoh'
the Controller OF Customs of Torola seized her. and the
local tribunal condemned her. She sold at auction
TO McCevery British subject for sloo25, which was
paid down. and the tax the same tOl 2 was PAID INTO
tho Colonial Treasury Upon the representation OF tno
owner in st. Thomas, tho Chief Justice OF the virgin
Islands decreed warrant OF arrest ma SUIT was IN
sttued In tho Admiralty Court by tho Queen through
her Advocate the steamer TELEGRAPH Baez however
was the plaintiff In interest be furnished the funds Tor
tbe su and the steamer In the event OF her final con-
DOMINATION was 10 be his. The argument OF the Judge
is very elaborate and 1t Is worthy OF note that more
American than British authorities are cited ID support OF
was tho service Of Of the two beigerent parties
at in santo Domingo-that the alleged acts n o,
being within tho territorial and maritime JURISDICTION OF
that Republic. no other Government nad any rght W
interfere take cognlzance OF these acts the
nation and sale was, therefore, illegal and yOid Bae1
appealed from this decision which has now been CON
hrmed In Chancery and jury Oh Iortola mas Sihco
awarded the indemnity aforesaid
UNwARRASTABLE ACTION OF OUR GOVERNMENT.
This decision IL severe reflection upon the action OF
our Government In sending out ships OF war IN pursuit
OF the TELEGRAPH, the presumption that sho was p
rate and on the alleged grounds Of her interference with
our commerce. No complaint, however. was ever made
by the captain or any one else interested In the only
American vessel she stopped Baez's wnesses,who made
the cruises In her but aerward pretended they ala not
know the service which she to be employed ana en-
deayored to make her ont prae) testified before the
court that while she lying at SANTANA awaiting the
decision OF the authorities for the surrender OF the town
h,AI nanAa1
sight with the American flag flying. Luperon stopped
her but finding her papers In order. and nothing on
board conraband OF war, allowed her Ito proceed. III
there had been any unnecessary detention OF any dis
courtesy shown the OCCASION the captain would have
complained to our consul at SantO Domingo; but the
consul knew nothing OF II till long after the ships were
sent in pursuit OF Gen. Babcock arrived in Santo
Domingo his first visit few days after the TELEGRAPH
anchored In Tortola According to his own testimony
he entered at upon negotiations with Baez through
the advice and assistance Of Cazncau the lease OF "a
and the transfer OF the country to the United
States He was told OF the operations Of the TELEGRAPH
and the fears entertained that she might upset Baezs
government before the transfer could be Effected II not
arrested In her bold Baez did not then know
where she was she had been dismaned and sent
back her The stoppage and detention Of the
American schooner at SANTANA the month previous, Baez
Cazneau and Babcock concluded. might with no very
great assumption OF power by one Executive, be consld
cred prima face case of praca interference with
commerce. and Justify him In setting her to sustain Baez
pending the negotiations for the transfer of the country
Babcock reported the immediately to Washington
without consulting informing the consul at sano Do
mingo whereupon vigilant Secretary OF the Navy
ordered the Seminole the West Indies in pursuit. Of tho
TELEGRAPH and if found seize her and take her into
Baltimore keeping her in sight and under his guns on
the way home And Babcock jealous In the interest OF
his new made friends, Baez and Cazneau, and with
81 iva
in that country, which might be placed IN ieoPardy by
the operations Of the Telegraph sent tc ir1gae Iu.cro-
RI SanO Domingo after her with Inc same oruers
How transparent prctex for the action of our Gov
eminent was is also found in the evidence OF aeZ W.T.
ncsscs who state that she likewise 'overhacd Dutch
a Spanish and two British vessels on the same cruise
Now the British government having her in its urs-
where che had likewise interfercd with British YES
ses did not overlook point available In sustaining
the hasy and incOnsderate oct OF the Controller Far
ringOn. The Chief Justice, ~ summing up used the
following forcibe and unans werable argument In refer
tcks Puerto Plata and SANTANA, the nghtng Shore
the dag OF TO he steamer the battle be
tween the and the Dominican schoonors of war,
would the like character Ia the stopping and deain
ing the several vessels mcLonedall having been done
ent"
THE PRESIDENT REGRETS THE RELEASE Oh AN AMERICAN
CITIZEN.
When the numerous cases Of wantoniand malicious in
reference with by the Spanish authorities
Cuba within the past three years considered Of
many which little notice has been taken 10y
Government is too evident the sole object in view in
sending two ships Of in hot pursuit Of the TELEGRAPH,
with pcremptOry orders, and without any complaint hav
ing been made by the parties Interested TO give aid
and comfort to Baez and to maintain him In hs usurped
power until the great specuations contemplated should
he secured by anne xationl and not protect
merce Under the present Administration, the best n-
terests the country have been made subordinate 10
party interests and to secure another lease OF power
The lives citizens have been placed in jeopardy and
they have deprived OF their liberty aud dcspoed OF
their property by petty and irresponsible Governments
and this has comm Ved at and encouraged by
our Government and its agents for mean and selfish
ends. THIS assert from my sad and painful
experience in SantO Domingo, and what makes my
case still more aggravating. II the positive assur-
ance / have, that the President after consontng
70 my remaining for months III the hands and ut
the mercy OF the barbarous tyrant Baez, expressed
his regret at my final release through the per-
empory demands Of Commercial Agent Perry and Admi.
raj Poor. And this account OF the apprehension
that was felt that might, from my knowledge of the
country and people expose the grand schemes OF specu
ation calculated upon out OF the annexation project
which the President had his heart upon and used the
power and influence OF his high position to effect And
half the denominations and crueltes praetced in aid of
this measure have not been told, or even the worst
Little by little, however the facts and the evidence will
all be brought to light
The contradictory rumOrs from Washington make this
subject interesting Some time ago given out
feeler by parties interested in the acquisition OF the
Dominican territory that treaty had been negot
ated with Baez and that this treaty did not ask for any
appropriation for the debt Of that country which would
he borne by parties having interests In that country
But this cunning device, TO test the feelings Of the
country again. has not succeeded No State Convention
has indored this pet policy OF the Administrations and
the press is almost unanimous in denouncing It as
wicked scheme OF few designing Consequently,
the subsequently given that the President
would not cOunenance attempt 10 revive the SanO
Domingo scheme this Winter, being saIisfed that it
would but prove a frebrand in the Republican party
The signs OF the times indeed omn0Is He seems
have discovered at last that he omn potent with
Republican party and that the Senate did not commit