Page:A History of Banking in the United States.djvu/351

 the banking capital of the State was owned by non-residents; one-third of all the loans were to bank officers and directors as borrowers or endorsers. "The banks distrusted one another and the public distrusted them." They had been warring on each other. Nine institutions are mentioned which have "illegal circulation;" one is the Orphans' Institute. There are also a great many forged notes afloat and notes of Michigan banks payable in Illinois.

March 23, 1840, small notes were once more forbidden. Also it was forbidden to pass them except to redeem those now out; also it was forbidden to issue notes payable at a future day or elsewhere than at the place of issue. All notes were held payable on demand in specie at the place of issue. No broker might pay out illegal notes; no notes under $5 to pass if not issued by the banks of Ohio; no State officer was to receive or pay out notes under $5. The Bank Commissioners in their next report said that this law had greatly diminished the circulation of unauthorized notes.

.—The Farmers and Mechanics' Bank was incorporated by the Territorial authority in 1829. A safety fund system was created, March 28, 1836.

A general banking law was passed March 15, 1837. Twelve freeholders of a county might form an association under certain conditions. The minimum capital was $50,000, of which $15,000 must be paid in before commencing. The allowed issue was $37,300. This law stimulated the formation of banking companies. In 1838, there were forty or fifty of them, for it appears that the number was not really known. It was a caricature of the New York system, and produced a swarm of small, swindling concerns. After the suspension, in 1837, the Legislature sanctioned the action of the banks in suspending, for one year, and a redemption law was passed for land sold on purchase-money mortgages, allowing the equity owner one year to redeem, with ten per cent. interest. The name "wildcat" banks is said to have originated in Michigan. Bank Commissioners were appointed, who made their first report April 6, 1838. In it we find the following: "On examination of the books of the Jackson County Bank, the following circumstances were exhibited: the names of all persons and corporations with whom accounts had been opened were written in pencil; the entries in ink. In a few minutes, therefore, the whole face of the business transactions of the bank could have at any time been entirely changed." "The Commissioners proceeded to an examination of the specie of the [Jackson County] bank. Gold coin was exhibited loose in a drawer, which, being counted, amounted to the sum of $1,037.78; about $150 in loose silver was also counted. Beneath the counter of the bank, nine boxes were pointed out by the teller as containing $1,000 each. The teller selected one of these boxes and opened it; this was examined, and appeared to be a full box of American half dollars. One of the Commissioners then selected a box, which he opened, and found the same to contain a superficies only of silver, while the remaining portion consisted of lead and ten-penny nails.