16074. Leather Manufacturers Bank (New York, NY)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Suspension → Reopening
Bank Type
state
Start Date
August 1, 1837*
Location
New York, New York (40.714, -74.006)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
e7cc8c5a

Response Measures

None

Description

Articles are from the 1837 panic. They do not describe a depositor run on the Leather Manufacturers' Bank; instead they state the bank is in condition to resume specie payments and the editor will accept its notes as specie (Sept 22, 1837). This implies the bank had suspended earlier during the panic and is now reopening/resuming specie payments. Cause of suspension appears to be the general 1837 financial panic (macro/systemic).

Events (2)

1. August 1, 1837* Suspension
Cause
Macro News
Cause Details
Suspension occurred as part of the general financial panic of 1837 and curtailment by banks during that crisis.
Newspaper Excerpt
Let this be remembered. Let it be proclaimed throughout the country. If these do not pay this sum voluntarily, they ought to be made to do it even at the expense of their charters. Let something be done retrieve our honor from the disgrace of suspension.
Source
newspapers
2. September 22, 1837 Reopening
Newspaper Excerpt
I hereby give notice that from this day henceforth, the notes of the following banks in this city ... will be received as equivalent to specie ... Leather Manufacturers' Bank ... We find ... they are at this moment in a condition to resume specie payments.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (2)

Article from Morning Herald, August 2, 1837

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Article Text

GOVERNMENT DEPOSITES. Decr. Incr. Jan. 1. July 1. 2,071,053 932,964 Bank of America, -2,064,017 1,055,418 Mechaniss, 944,582 2,000,000 Phenix. 183,795 183,795 439,824 140,056 579,880 Merchants, 5:9,000 Union, 130,634 709,634 30,624 National, 150,624 120,000 264,502 115,498 380,000 Merchants' Exchange, 264,911 Leather Manufac. 185,089 450,000 211,000 134,000 Lafayette, 345,000 194,399 133,101 327,500 Seventh Ward, 158,013 41,987 200,000 Tradesman's, 4,238,120 214,419 7,176,031 3,152,330 214,419 3,152,330 Dim. Depos. $4,023,701 $4,023,701 This exhibit furnishes many themes for reflection. They will readily occur to the intelligent mind. We see the folly of making state institutions depositories of the government funds. It supplied them with additional capital to speculate upon, anthus disturbed the original intent of their charters. On the 1st of January last, upwards of seven millions were at the disposal of eleven corporations. Did the framers of their charters ever anticipate such an accession to their capital? What was the effect? Theystimulated, to an unnatural extent, by loaning these funds to detters who had already gone beyond their depth. Up to the 1st of March, these seven millions were no doubtturned twice or thrice with immense profits. And whence were these profits derived? From the pockets of the consumers, the greater part of whom are the middling and poorer classes. The undue extension given to trade, speculation, &c. by the use of seven millions of government funds, brought with it the 4th of March, 1837. We should like very much to see a statement of the affairs of these banks OR that day. It would be a rare and curious exhibit. We will venture one opinion without fear of contradiction, that the public deposites on that day were overnine millions. Let that pass, however. During an unexampled panie, we find these very banks curtailing in all directions, and ruining their deluded victims. They have decreased the deposit fund since the first of the year $4,023,701. It is supposed that the amount of the public revenue locked up in the deposite banks is now about 25 millions. New York owes one ninth of that amount, What is tobinder these eleven Banks from resuming specie payments and liquidating this debt? Nothing but the miserable desire of amassing profits at the expence of their bill-holders and other creditors. We, however, care not for the Treasury."In can afford to pay the whole 29 millions as a bonus for a retur to honesty and straight paths. But there need be no loss. Let t government protect its baaks and throw its whole weight into the some of resumption. The thing-ean be easily effected. But will Mr. Van Buren compel his way ward agents to come back to the good old doctrine of paying what they owe? We again call public attention to the fact that eleven deposite banks of New York coly owe the government $3,152,330! Let this be remembered. Let it be proclaimed throughout the country. If these do not pay this sum voluntarily, they ought to be made to do it even at the expense of their charters. Let something be done retrieve our honorfrom the disgrace of suspension. Stocks today are stiff. United States went ap to 118. Delaware'& Hudson aproved 11, Phenix 4, American Life & Trust 1, Mokawk Rail Road 1. New Orleans Gas Co. remained firm. Speeie was heavy at the Board and in the street. Three o the packets have smiled and carried out a large amount. The other,the London packet, will be detained untile o'clock P.M. this day, to receive . hatever comes along. She towever will netcarry out but a rifling amount more than was engaged for her yesterday. Stx'o'clock, P. M. At the second board today very little was done in stocks There was also great inactivity in therbullion offices. It is calculated that the four paekets which went to sea today will carry.out $1,200,000. in specie, in part payment of the foreign debt. The quantity of produce is meagre. Inc the Ontario alone, for London, we learn that $100,000 of specie passed through the Custom House. Few entries were made for the other vecsels, but it is known, unofficially, that $500,000, if not more, have been shipped to Liverpool and Havre. For several days past the activity in the bullion market has been immense. The following are the exports of specie inthe.several vessels named $500,000 By the Ontario to London, (official,) as 425,000 Orpheus to Liverpool, (unofficial,) do 44 Shakspeare todo. 89,000 " do. Baltimore to Havre, 170,000


Article from Morning Herald, September 22, 1837

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Article Text

MORNING HERALD. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1837. The Beginning-Resumption of Specie Payments-Separation of the Sheep from the Goats. To THE PUBLIC.-I hereby give notice that from this day henceforth, the notes of the following banks in this city (with the reasons annexed to them) will be received as equivalent to specie, and also silver will be given for them in change for advertisements, subscriptions and other payments made at this office. NAMES OF THE BANKS. REASONS FOR RECEIVING THEIR NOTES Specie. Circulation. Bank of America, 656,596 440,769 82,564 65,713 Leather Manufacturers' Bank, Seventh Ward Bank 76,390 77,592 Tradesmen's Bank, 28,932 32,993 Thus do I show Mr. Van Buren and his chef de euisine, Amos Kendall, the right path to popularity. Will they not fellow ? JAMES GORDON BENNETT. New York, Sept. 22, 1837. In making this announcement to the publie, it may be expected that I should assign further reasons for taking such a step. I will do so. It becomes the duty of every good citizen and upright man, to aid, in seasons of calamity, the general effort made towards an improvement and restoration in trade and commerce. On many occasions I have honestly and fearlessly laid bare to the public view, what I deemed to be a wide departure from the scienificeprinciplesof: and currency, in the conduct of our banks. I pursued this course through every species of threats-in the midst of inducements to the contrary,-and in opposition to all sinister attempts upon what I believed to be the duty of an intelligent and fearless editor towards an honest, cheated, butenlightened public. When the banks expanded their eirculation last year, in the midst of an inflation of prices, I denounced their policy, their ignorance, their cupidity, and predicted the consequences we have all seen. When the thick-headed and stupid bank commissioners, who seemed to me always like three asses all in a row, were certifying rottenn and giving character to bankruptey, I told the public not to believe these charlatans, and they did not believe them. Thus far thus well. But after the severe revalsion which we have seen, the last throes being yet felt, the banks have at last come to their senses-they have looked into the principles of their peculiar business, and many of them have wisely retraced their steps, and come back, like the prodigal son, to the paths of honesty and correctness. Let us do them justice. We know the fact-personally and beyond the reach of cavil-that the measure of suspension was forced, and urged, and threatened upon them, by speculators in lots, lands, and other articles of cupidity, aided and assisted by corrupt and unprincipled peliticians of this and another city, for the purpose of making the government and the people succumb to the authority of certain bankers and their confederates. It is our deliberate opinion that this self-inflicted calamity was produced by the intrigues of Nicholas Biddle, Esq., of Philadelphia, aided and assisted by his corrupt instruments in this city, the Courier & Enquirer, the Star, with others, in order to destroy the commercial character of New York-extort a new charter from Congress, and make the insolent institution in Philadelphia, the centre of the money market of this Union, instead of New York. Had we aided or assisted in approving such a policy as Mr. James G. King, of the house of Prime & Co., and other Wall street financiers, did, on the day after the suspension, in a public meeting in the Exchange, we should have considered ourself recreant to national honor, to moral principle, to commercial integrity, to correct financial science, and to the interests of New York and the whole country. Instead of pursuing that atrocious policy, only capable of being adopted by ignorance, and hailed by reckless presumption, we insisted upon the banks gradually but rapidly recovering their former strength, and putting themselves in a position to resume specie payments at an early day. On this question a great difference of opinion has existed-but fortunately for correct financial science, nearly one half of our institutions have adopted the right policy, and rejected e advice, and despised the threats of the intriguers and agitators with equal contempt. The banks which we named in the foregoing notice, are at this moment in a condition to resume specie payments. They have duly published monthly statements since May last, and on their statements we, so far as our individual operations extend, have came to the resolution to receive these bills equivalent to specie, and to give that confidence to their paper which their proper management deserves. We find, also, that the following banks, by the policy they pursue, will probably be ready on the 1st of October, to be placed on the same list