Page:A History of Banking in the United States.djvu/349

 chartered January 19, 1838; capital $5 millions; all the school fund, the federal surplus revenue, and all the credits of the State were to be put into its capital, and the remainder was to be raised by bonds on the faith of the State. That part of the federal surplus which had been deposited in the three existing banks was to be paid over within two years to this bank. Six per cent. thirty-year bonds were to be issaed to the president of the bank; the bank was also to negotiate bonds issued for internal improvement companies. The Governor, with the confirmation of the Legislature, was to appoint twelve directors; term of the charter, 1868; dividends to go to schools; lowest note $5; after January 1, 1841, $10; notes receivable by the State; the head and three branches to be in Middle Tennessee, two branches in the west and two in the east; the bank to pay interest out of the State dividends on the State bonds issued to internal improvement companies, which are also provided for in this act. It is enacted in general that the State shall take half the stock in any such companies which have been or may be incorporated. The president of the bank, in his report of 1839, said that there appeared to have been two motives for the establishment of the bank; one, to give relief, which required that its issues should be proportionately distributed over the State; the other, to provide-a Sound currency, assist commerce, education, and public works, by making large dividends. These purposes were somewhat antagonistic. The branches had been established with a view to the former purpose. Another president, in 1845, said that its profits had been sacrificed by the locations selected for its branches.

This bank apparently began under suspension June 27, 1938, for it was announced that its post-notes would be redeemed in specie as soon as other banks in the State should commence specie payments. On the 5th of December specie at Nashville was at twelve and thirteen premium.

Its issues were pleaded against as bills of credit, but were held to be covered by Briscoe's case.

.—At the session of 1835-6, the United States Bank of Pennsylvania was forbidden to have any bank or banker as its agent in Ohio; the penalty on a bank which should act for it, $10,000, on a banker $1,000. It was made unlawful to circulate its notes; penalty $1,000, and any officer employed by the Bank was made subject to a penalty of $500. Action might be prosecuted by any citizen. This law was repealed January 26, 1838, but another law was passed February 9, 1839, making it unlawful for any bank or agent to act for that Bank or for any other bank, incorporated by any other State or by the United States. No foreign bank might establish an agency without the consent of the Legislature, and it was made unlawful to act as the agent to put the notes of such bank in circulation.

No State ever seemed to struggle so hard against unauthorized notes as Ohio. All unincorporated companies were forbidden, February 16, 1838, to issue notes without authorization. Any incorporated company which issued