The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1872-06-04
THE SPIRIT OF DEMOCRACY.
tuesday. Il Junc A. Is12.
The SAN Daminso psot
Correspondence Of wilRb's Spirit. dated p

correspondence of WILKES Spirit. dated Prov.
ldehce, Rhode Island, May /, 1921
while dining with Mr. Perry, at Bris
lol, Rhode Island, We mad n conversa
lion on political themes Mr.. p, as
some will rcmemhcr, WAS the Consul at
st Domingo during Grants annexation
negotiations, and was much interested
in some facts he related TO me, which |
think are not generally known. | will
give you slight synopsis OF them, Mr..
T.. indorsed bv Genera! Sheridan and
Others, applied to President Grant for
the position of United States Marshal
oil Texas, where lie had formerly served
with Sheridan. President Grant ap-
pointed him to the Consulship at st. Do
mlngo. Although not TO his inclination.
Mr.. L. aecepted the post. and endeav-
ored faithfully to discharge what ap-
peafed to him its duties' Upon first ar
irving at the island, Mr., Perry discover
ed the actual power of the Consuship
TO he in the hands of Mr.. Casneau,
the largest landholder on the island, and
himself Consul only in name Mr..
Casaeau was in direct correspondence
with President Grant and Babcnck, and
had also entire control Of the Domini-
cln Cabinet; rs President .Baez inform
ed Mr.. Perry, Casneau was the coniiden-
tial CORES spondent of President Grant.
dt was by General Bshcock and Cas-
neau's orders that Mr. Hatch was i'm
prisoned to prevent his possible cores
pondepce with the United States press,
which they feared would be prejudicial
tc annexation.
Mr.. Perry received direct orders from
the State Department to release Hatch,
and dia1so with the assistance of Adj
miral Poor, Notwithstanding the disap-
proval of President Baez and Casneau.
-Aflerward General Babeoek told Perry
he had no business to release Hatch and
that Grant was very much displeased
with him fer, doing so. Perry replied
that he had his orders from the Secre.
tary of State to release him. Babcock
then said, "Fish is a-old fool, and
Grantlis going to have him relieved"-
Mr.. P. opposed large concessions OF
lands from President B. to Casneau and
bis American friends. which was in vio-
latien of Article of the Annexation
Treaty with the United States. Mr.. p,
seeing the plots and intrigues of these
parties, Wrote to the State Department,
officially and privately, hut received no
answer approving or disapproving his
acts. All communications from Wash
ingtoauipassed between the Executive
Mansion and Mr.. Casncau. Fish. in
his turn, told Mr.. 2. the whole thing
was very mysterious, that the business
of annexation had not been conducted
through the proper channels, anG that
he himself had warned President Grant
and Babcock. Mr.. Perry, seeing had
blood in Washington as well as st. Do
mingo, left the mattes&n the hands OF
Senators Sumner and Schurz, after do
ing what he could to enlighten them or
some important subjects. Mr.. Perry
returnehto farm life, where, as he says
the growing of cocks, cackling of hens
and neighing of colts do not annoy him
as the discordant voices of diplomatic
spectators and intriguers. Mr.. Perry
tells me that since his return to Bristo
attempts have been made by authorities
in Washington to persecute shim in
certain manner, as they consider he ha'
greatly hurt annexation: