Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-09-15
MONS. JACQUES LAFITTE.
lensber ef Ae French Chamber Of Qe,,,,ti


and obscure psrentsge. H,s father was master
carpenter, who supported with difficulty very
osrsss uily ey hs industry. His second son, JAG.
qucs, distinguished himself at an eariy age by
9oickhets Of parts very uncommon at those ycarss-
At0e age Of dhoan he placed with banker At
Deycnne, OF the name of Pormlaques, and there
speedily made himself conspicuous by his application
and PromPtness in comprehending oil the nceties OF
commercial transactions NJ. Porm!aques conceived
friendship for him, and in very short time young
Lsntte was complete adept in the line of business
which he embraced. Already. by the frsit of his
industry, no supported his entire family when his
youthful ambition suggesting TO him to appear on
more extensive theatre than that of small provn-
ca town. he repaired to Paris at the dawn of the re-
volu,ion. Being provided with letter of recon-
mendation, as the only ground of his fortune from
NJ Formaqucs, to the banker Pcrregaux, he present.
cd himself before him, and was admitted into the
house as clerk. Tho old banker was struck with
nus umpe but intelligent couutenance, and his mo-
dest and respectful behaviour, and treated him with
every degree of kindness With tho assistance of
tins new auxiliary, the business Of the establishment,
received rapid augmena alton and improvement
which was to be attributed to his ability vigilance g.
perseverance; and in tho of time the son of
the poor carpenter of Bayonne became partner and
afterwards, at the death of n Perrcgaux, head of
that concern which he has raised to such high
degree Of prosperity. and the capital of which, in
specie and effects, amounts to twenty millions of
French livres.
The political career of NJ. LaG;;e began in 1914;
he then enlarged the ephere of his action and, not
counting his ideas within the limits of Justly me-
ted reputation he obtained the still more valua BILE es
tirnation of being an intrepid citizen, and en-
tiSey devoted to the interests of his country. Twice
and At two different periods of time, he has saved the
treasures of the hank of France. The Emperor Ma
poleon on the first approaches Of his rcvcrses endca
vored to convert the resources of the bank his
account But the statutes of that establishment
were found to be In opposition tho wishes of the
Emperor, according to their strict interpreta
The council was assembled the order of the EInpe-
Tor was read, and the whole meeting looked ut each
nj. ,snffn
NJ LATTE, who was the governor of the bank arose
and with voice of frmness and energy, refused his
assent to q measure that contradictory to the
regulations Of the bank, and must uimc ely be des-
tructive to its credit But his colleagues were still
hesitsting when he wildly reproached them for q
weakness that was likely to cover them with infamy
IN the eyes Of the commercial world and feeling he
power Of his Inconsistencies and the dctates of their
own conscienccs, they Joined him IN his vote.
On the second OCCASION still greater danger me
naced him from a different quarter. He was COVER
nor Of the Bank in 8l4, when the greatest anarchy
prevailed in Paris, and the allied armies entered It
with all the power their own hands. A mcssen-
Ger from General Butcher repaired to NJ. Laitte's
house In the evening, charging him, in the of
his superior 10 surrender to him the keys of the trea
suvy OF the bank Prompt obedience insist ed ON,
or else an immediate conveyance to the fortress OF
Spandau. The officer threatened to put the order in
force at that very instant, but Al LATTE refused TO
comply, and only requested 10 be permitted to re-
main with his family till the following morning. The
request was granted and M. Lati,te, profng by the
few moments lowed to him dispatched an express
to the Emperor Alexander, begging him for a safe
guard and protection. The aid de-camp of Butcher
passed the night in the of the banker but
on the following morning the express returned with
q favorable and satisfactory answer.
When the landing of Napoleon on the shores Of
Provence was announced at the Tueries the royal
government felt reluctant to apply to banker that
had exhibited so many striking proofs of patriotism;
nevertheless it was to him that the party addressed
themselves in the hour of Distress to transmit to
mol md he hicnn Ia 81
the approach Of Napoleon. n. Laitte did moi hes.
itaio to comply and take charge of that very deca
commission forsetfu Of the rebufs that he had pre-
v,ously experienced, and handed to the falling mon
arch letter OF credit England before he recey-
cd the necessary securities himself
Napoleon now falls; and 1t Is 81 LATTE that is dcs-
tined to become The depository Of his fortune. But
what his recompense? nothing but ISLANDERS and
insults on the part of the royal government and what
10 more, Napoleon, OF his death bed booueathed his
property to those who had ruined him by their at,e
ries, but bestowed not single mark Of kindness or
gratitude on the man who had assisted him in his
distress
In the Chamber Of Deputies, NJ. LATTE rarely
mounts the tribune, but when there he speaks only
OF that which he thoroughly understands. Though
his physical powers feeble, and his voice weak,
re contrves to make himself well understood, be.
cause he knows we'll how to secure a hearing. His
first speech on the question Of the Budget delivered
IN 1915, introduced new era into France. IL was
the FIRST time that any member ventured in the tri-
buns, to contradict the statements Of the ministers;
bnt his style Of speaking soon came into vogue and
the merit of it's original invention Justly BIO as
cribed to II, LATTE In all his speeches on subjects
of finance, this member is very pars:nonious oftwo
things of which the other orators are very lavish
that is figures Of arithmetic, and figures of speecb:
he reasons rather than calculates, and, like M De
Lebourdonnaye, and, before him, the eloquent Gen
Foy, he goes into mere defamation. His die
Son is not always elegant, but it is neat; and his
epeeches are occasionally diffIse but never violent,
lie but little gesture and his preambles as well
as his action, simple and natural He delivers
occasionally, unprecedented sentiments. and very
successfully unforeseen SUBJECTS his written and
spoken language partake Of the same character
which, considered with reference to tho three excel
lent speeches which lie lately delivered no longer
lows US to believe, las is groundossly assered that
be borrowed the pen Of his friend Manual Whether
the fabric Of his mind, his physical organization
be the cause that long periods and theatrical bursts
Of eoquence do not belong to him, or whether he be
mstrustful Of his own facility, he makes frequent
psuses between his sentences; that his style Of
speaking s not at all Of piece, and The conjecture
Of his argument is not sufficiently close; and tho art