Year: 1870

WAsHrNGToN, June Q, 1870
The Sc. Domingo Treaty Again Before the


Senate-Spicy Debate Between Senators


sharp Language ON All Sides.


Yesterday and to-day the Senate had two OF the
toughest and most exciting executive sessions that
have occurred since the administration OF Andy
Johnson. The subject matter under consideration
was the St. Domingo treaty and the proposition Of
Senator schurz TO have an investigation into
the manner in which It was negotiated.
The debate in open session yesterday on the
petition Of Hatch presented by Senator Ferry, wasa
mild indication Of the volcanic disturbance which
goes on IN the interior Tn these executive sessions
Senators are wont 20 throw on the grave decOrum
and stiff dignity that sit so well on them when the
eyes OF all Delaware AMI the rest of the United
States are upon them. They often allude to one
another in terms more ''pungent Than parliamentary"
as the Illinois wa2 Ingerso would say, and The
language is sometimes known strong Anglo Saxon
The session yesterday 1t is said was little Out OF
the usual line. It would be easier to say who did
not participate in the discussion than to give list
OF those who did The motion before the Senate was
TO fix Thursday next the time for the considera
tion OF the st. Domingo treaty. This brought up The
whole subject Of the investigation ana the mprison
ment OF Hatch. Senator Ferry reiterated his





lative to General Babcock being instrumental In
having Hatch imprisoned. lie rctorted rather
sharply upon Chandler who sat Immediately be.
hind him, with his long, angular legs upon his desk,
chewing q package OF Michigan fine cut. and anus
ing himself by squirting tobacco juice in the dlrec
tion of where Ferry stood. Chambers soul Is al
ways in arms and eager for fray with q brother
Senator, as with the British lion or any other
man. He mounted Ferry al once and boldly ex-
pressed the opinion that Hatch was a sc0updre
who deserved to be hanged. Had ne been President
Baez, he would have put him to that use long ago
Notwithstanding the assertion Of Horace Greeley
that hanging is the worst use TO which man can
be put. AS for Ferry Chandler thought he was
trying to get up a quarrel with the President, and
was hitting OF Grant over Babcocks shoulders.
He was in favor Of an open square fight "
Senator'S thought the President was to blame, why
didn't they say so openly and boldly ana
not be slashing at humble individuals who not
in q position to defend themselves. This brought
out Sumner He was not AFRAID 10 say that the
President was to blame in some degree He would
not impue any wrong motives 10 the President, but
he believed he had not gone about the negotiation Of
this treaty III the proper manner His error was
rather of the head than Of the heart. The atmo-
sphere full OF rumors Of improper
conduct on the part of those connected





was the friend OF the President ana
as such he wanted to have the whole matter;
investigated, as set the President right. Thaycr
did not think the Senator nom Massachusetts was
acting like the friend OF the President Like Chan
dler he did not believe In this thing OF making
assault upon the character OF person like Bah
cock who held a subordinate positon-a position
which necessarily closed his month far
as making any defence was concerned. How
ard, Of Michigan, had heard nothing from
either sumner, Ferry or Scnun. which conld
in his opinion, warrant an investigation. Who
had dled the air with rumorsi Who Drought these
chargess II was such fellows as HaIch--meu who
for some purpose, were interested In having the
treaty defeated. Neither Of the Senators named had
given the Senate single substantial reason for the
proceeding they asked. The character OF President
Grant was not to be assaed as 1t had been here IN
the Senate without his protesting against It, He
would tell the Senators that the country had faith IN
President Grant, In his honor and integrity less
than in his patriotism ana sound judgment.


Chandler, encouraged, or rather fred, by the
hold words OF his colleague thought 1T was time to
make another raid upon the enemy. This time he
launched out upon his learned friend from Massa-
chusetts. That Senator had an idea that nothing
should be done except he was first consulted. The
trouble was that ne had not had nand IN the nego-
tiation OF this treaty. He would advise
him 70 look after the Alabama claims
ana leave others 70 attend 70 matters nearer
home. The democrats, as might be expected, were
interested and edited spectators OF this nice little
family quarrel. Senator Thurman, OF ONO. said is
sometimes happened that neutrals offered their
vices to settle the quarrels Of begerents He would
inform the contending parties that the democrats of
the Senate stood ready to give their friendly offices
In this tight whenever 1t was thought they could be
of service. After sharp fight Of an hour it was
finally agreed to proceed with the consideration OF
the treaty next Thursday.


The executive session OF to-day was relative to the
same subject. Schurz moved that the resolution
offered by him the other day for investigation OF
the manner In which the st. Domingo treaty was
negotiated be referred to the select committee Of
seven appointed to investigate the charges set forth
In the petition OF Hatch This was the signal for
another lively sklrmish all along the line. The
friends OF the treaty stated that they were not AFRAID
OF the results OF an investigation, they rather
courted it, as did General Babcock and all
the parties concerned. Chandler made a raid upon
Schurz as he had the previous day upon Ferry. He
demanded to know what authority he had for the
allegations that the treaty was improperly neg0-
tated For one he had no idea OF getting up an in
vestlgation until he knew there was some ground
10 go On. ocnuTz silu nc mao ROt InOst OF Ills
Information from Mr.. Perry, the United States
commercial agent at san Domingo City.
Howard charged In upon Perry, saying
that II that was all The authority ae lad he dd not
think much Of it. He had been informed that this
man Perry, since his arrival here had been going
around among The newspaper correspondents try
ing to get them to print his statements Perry has
been accused OF this by the Secretary of State and
he had denied it. The Secretary then told
him TO reduce the denial to writing, but he
tHoward) was informed that up to this time
he had not done 1t. This was the sort
OF man on whose statements 1t was proposed
to nyesaae tho President OF the United States for it
amounted TO an investigation Of him after all. Nor
said he questioned the right Of the Senate to in
yestgate the President Tie proposition was at least
something new In the history Of the government
Tie Execullye was coordinate branch Of the gov.