Page:A History of Banking in the United States.djvu/260

 in the history of the banks. February 16, 1833, the Bank of Virginia and the Farmers' Bank were authorized to subscribe to the James River and Kenawha Company not more than 5,000 shares. March 4th, they were allowed to increase their capital, in order to pay for these subscriptions.

The Merchants and Mechanics' Bank of Wheeling was incorporated March 7, 1834; capital $500,000; to last until 1854; bonus $25,000; 12 per cent. penalty for suspension; debts, exclusive of deposits, limited to twice the capital. In an explanatory act, February 17, 1835, the intention was declared to allow no notes under $5 after June 1, 1842; and the right was reserved in this charter to legislate further as to the lowest denomination of notes.

An act for the general regulation of banks was passed March 22, 1837. Banking powers were defined; three-fifths of the capital was to be paid in in coin before beginning; the lowest denomination of notes, until July 1, 1840, was to be $10; after that $20; the circulation was never to exceed five times the coin reserve; 15 per cent. penalty for failure to redeem; a bonus of a quarter of one per cent. on the capital was to be paid by creating extra stock, which should be a fund for internal improvements. The act was long and full of detail, embracing the general features of the Virginia charters with some comprehensive improvements. It stands in the history as a record of the pious intentions of the Legislature at the moment that the storm burst upon them. They proceeded, however, at once to other legislation likely to have a very different effect. The Exchange Bank of Norfolk, with three branches, $1.8 millions capital, half by the State, to last until 1852, was chartered March 25th. Additions, aggregating $3.2 millions, to the capital of the existing banks were proposed, half by the State, and the charters were extended until 1857, if the banks would come under this law and the general law; the limit of notes to $10 was postponed until October 1st. The State proposed to pay its subscriptions with its share in the distribution of the federal surplus, the remainder of which was to be loaned to the Bank of Virginia and the Farmers' Bank at 5 per cent.

.—"An act to establish a bank in the State of North Carolina" was passed at the session 1833-4; capital $1.5 millions; until 1860; the State to have an option on two-fifths of the capital, and to pay its subscription, if it decides to use its privilege, as the other subscribers do, in specie or its equivalent; the option to be open until 1837; to have four out of ten directors if it takes all the shares reserved to it; the State Treasurer to be ex-officio a director; tax 25 cents per share; 12 per cent. penalty for nonredemption; lowest note $5; limit of circulation twice the capital. A supplementary act provided that the Treasurer might borrow of the Bank of Cape Fear and the bank at Newbern, if it should seem expedient, apparently implying that he might borrow to pay this subscription. In an account of the organization of this Bank of the State, it is stated that the commissioners at first found it difficult to decide what was "equivalent to specie." Their decision was unanimous, but the document does not tell what it was. It is