Page:A History of Banking in the United States.djvu/323

 In New York it was said, at the end of November, that not a bill against cotton had been seen. The United States Bank was buying the cotton in the South and selling exchange in the North at 109 3-4 as a fixed price. At this time money was at twelve per cent. per annum in Philadelphia, and the Bank was depressing the exchange lest there should be an exportation of specie. "Money in New York and Boston is said to be abundant, owing probably to the banks in those cities having made their curtailments before the resumption. It is supposed that were it not for the Bank of the United States supplying the demand for bills on London at nine and a-half, the rate would go to ten or ten and a-half, in which case specie would be exported." At Philadelphia the state of the case was quite different. The Bank of the United States issued a notice requiring fifteen per cent. to be paid on all stock notes every sixty days, and stocks were falling. Post-notes of the best credit were quoted at twelve per cent. per annum discount. Among the causes stated were: "The neglect of the banks before the resumption to reduce the amount of their loans to an extent equal to the excess which occasioned the depreciation of the currency, by which the proper check would have been given in time to importations and fresh speculations." The New York banks were said to have loaned very carefully since resumption and to be in a very sound condition. There was no pressure on the merchants, who had made but few notes; but there was some complaint from the brokers, and stocks were low. It is very noticeable that this is stated by the same newspaper which in May had expressed doubts of the wisdom of the New York plan.

On account of the complaints which began be to heard of the action of the Bank, Biddle found it necessary to publish another letter to Adams, in which he rehearsed all the defense of the policy of the Bank in making a corner on cotton, representing it as done in the interest of the southern planters. He said that the operations had been relinquished, which was not true. Finally he withdrew the Bank from all functions as a national bank. It wanted only "repose;" "abdicated its involuntary power;" "it will take its rank hereafter as a simple State institution, devoted exclusively to its own special concerns."

In December the Liverpool cotton market was very dull and feverish. The spinners were alarmed at the speculation and, anticipating its failure and a fall in price, shortened work and diminished the demand. As the year 1839 went on, the developments in England were unfavorable. The crop failed, there was great distress amongst laborers, specie was exported, and prices fell. These facts were all unfavorable to an extension of credit, a revival of business, and an improvement in the price of cotton.

Biddle resigned the presidency of the Bank March 29, 1839. In his second letter to Clayton, in 1841, he says that the circulation, deposits, and other debts then amounted to $35.4 millions while the specie and the loans