The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1825-06-30
From tic National Gazette.

In order to cxcmplify what is called min
is:eriai monarchy, and to record here a fine
instance of maiily self devotion, we have
translated The following article.
C9Hrt 9f .issl-es-PariS, 25M -fhrR
NJ. Laignel, former Captain in the Navy,
who had ol>tancd all his advances in the SER
vice 0y honorable exploits, was brought up
to the bar Of the Court. He was accused of
having addressed, in writing, menaccs to the
kings minister's if they did not repeal All
ordinance b. which the pensions of the ma
w officers were reduced below those OF tho
office clerks, i'll violation of the text OF the
law. Ihc prisoner was in uniform and de-
coratei with the orders of St. Louis and the
Legion of Honor. He appeared to be about
SIXTY wears Of age. His exterior indicated
the temper and roughncss of ali cid sailor.
I IN Imprisonment of one huudYcG and ninc-
| U.fre Gcys, before he was called to trial,
J di not seem to have depressed his spirit
/ When interrogatcd by the President of the
Court as to the motives which had deter
mined him to send the writing in question
! to the ministers, he answered, that having
failed IN ali his endeayors to cause Justice to
be done TO his fellow officers he thought nc
other expedient remained than to cause
himself 70 be brought to trial in some way,
50 that the circumstance might reach the
ear of the King, and iull light be thrown up
on the abuses in the administration Of the ma
val concern. The President remarked to
hm-'You ought 10 have addressed your
complaints TO the Eing, the fountain Of al
Justice" III. Latgnci answered-"l address
ed sic memorials to the King; the third was
handed to him by the High admiral; pre-.
sented the sixth myself to His Niaasty, or
my bendcd l;nec--I asked nothing for my.
self have the highest pension attached te
my rank. petitioned only for brave am
unfortunate officers who were reduced tc
: penupy. The two houses of the Legislature
referred, six times, my petitions to the min
isters, who paid 40 attention to them a
length, Itook and produced the Joint Opinion
of several OF the most distinguished jurist
: OF the capital; but in vain--l therefore trict
J every means Of obtaining Justice"
After this dialougue, the attorney genera
/ endcavourctl to shew that although the accu
scd had no intention to execute the thrcat
:, which he addressed to the ministers, he hat
!, nevertheless committed crime speciiet
{ by the law. The counsel of the prisonc
e pronounced an eloquent and ngcniou
: speech, IN his defence, showed how the hal
: pay Of the naval officers had been sueldenl
j, reduced by the ministry, in 1915; ho,
o Laigne had sacrificed eight or nine years &
7 his time and repose, and anuch of his means
S in hisnoble efforts to cause this wrong to b
! redrcssed: how, finally, seeing that he coul
: secure no attention from the government i
: the regular way, he resolved to offend TIL
c ministry, 50 as tobc dragged before the cri
= minal court, where notoriety might be give
to the whole case.
u The jury, after deliberating short tim
II acquitted the prisoner.
Ii 81 hole III the zsaN."--1he inmates
d our Jail took French leave of US, on Tuesda
C night week, ltth inst, by performing I'll