21762. Banks of Richmond (Richmond, VA)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Suspension → Reopening
Bank Type
state
Start Date
October 15, 1839
Location
Richmond, Virginia (37.554, -77.460)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
29e58b5a

Response Measures

None

Description

Multiple Richmond banks suspended specie payments in mid-October 1839 following suspensions by the Bank of the U.S., Philadelphia and other cities. Articles describe a coordinated, temporary suspension motivated by wider banking suspensions (macro/systemic), with statements that banks expect to resume when northern banks permit — no run or permanent closure reported in these items.

Events (1)

1. October 15, 1839 Suspension
Cause
Macro News
Cause Details
Suspension adopted in response to suspensions by the Bank of the U.S., Philadelphia and other banks; part of a wider regional/national banking suspension in October 1839 (systemic panic).
Newspaper Excerpt
the Banks of Norfolk, with the exception of the Exchange Bank.) and of Richmond, (including the Office of the Exchange Bank)-These last for the present, to see what course the other Banks will pursue; and accompanied with a resolution, not to extend their business.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (5)

Article from Richmond Enquirer, October 15, 1839

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Article Text

# Another Suspension! The Bank of the U. S. taking the lead, and the other Banks of Philadelphia, suspended on Wednesday The following banks have followed lead-the Banks of Baltimore, with the resolution, "That under the circumstances, this meeting deems it advisable that the Banks of this city forthwith suspend specie payments for the present, and recommend the same to the Boards of the several Banks." - The Banks of Delaware and the Bank of Wilmington and Brandywine also suspended- Ditto the Banks of Georgetown, (with the exception of the Patriotic Bank of Washington,) and of Alexandria-the Banks of Norfolk, with the exception of the Exchange Bank.) and of Richmond, (including the Office of the Exchange Bank)-These last for the present, to see what course the other Banks will pursue; and accompanied with a resolution, not to extend their business. Per Contra, the Banks of NEW YORK stand their ground-All the papers affirm that they will stick to it; and the New York Gazette of Saturday uses the following strong language: "Our Banks will not suspend specie payments. No such fraternity need be looked for, maugre all the prophecy that can be got up South of the Delaware. There may be a very few puny politicians, and a smaller number still, of narrow minded men of business who croak of something they do not understand-who talk about the "necessity of protecting ourselves," and all that sort of thing-meaning thereby that the Banks ought to follow Philadelphia example; but nine-tenths of the community, of all parties, repudiate the idea with the scorn it deserves." It is believed, that the Banks of the North will generally follow their example-and we learn, that most of the Banks in Boston, Portland, &c., will be able to make good their engagements. So mote it be!


Article from Richmond Enquirer, October 18, 1839

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of the Bank of the U. S., and avers, that "itis to be, believed, that the Banks of Massachusetts will be driven into a measure so fatal to themselves end to the prosperity of the people. We cannot anticipate any serious or last inc evil from an event, which must have been foreseen by prudent and sagacious men; and no predent or saga. cious man, unless blinded and blindfolded by rapacity and avarice-the hope of making from eighteen to twenty-four per cent. a year by the purchase of post notes-can ultimately be a loser by it; and for such, we do not believe that public sympathy will be wasted -The Atlas says, "It seems to be generally understood and agreed that in any measures which the New Eng land banks may adopt, they will be wholly guided by the example of New York. New England may certainly claim to be better off than any other part of the country, for while all the rest of the country is greatly indebted to N. York, N. England alone has a balance in that city in its favor." - The Boston Sentinel uses similar language and says: We are happy 12 learn from N. Y that the Banks of that city are firm. and that the prospect is, that they will not be compelled to suspend. The same confidence is felt in regard to our own Banks Indeed if the New York Banks prove stable, there is no reason loapprehend any difficulty here. Our banks have long been prepared for any emergency, and we are assured that they are abundantly supplied with specie for all their liabilities Thus far, there has been no disposition to call lor specie, and We trust. that the whole of this enlightened community will continue in the saine liberal spirit that animated us, through the crisis of 1838. We have not heard from any Banks South of us. Our Banks here pay out small change for $5 notes, and renew the old negotiable notes, and have determined to do no business paper, but what is essential, &c The Banks of Winchester suspended on Monday, having understand that those of Richmond had done the same-The Ex. change Bank of Norfolk carries on its operations, under rules which it has published.-Much - anxiety is felt about the course of the New Orleans Banks.


Article from Lincoln Telegraph, October 24, 1839

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TELEGRAPH. From the New York Com. Adv. PROGRESS OF SUSPENSION. Since our last publication, positive intelligence has been received of the temporary suspension of specie payments by the banks of Richmond, Norfolk, the District of Columbia, Wilmington, (Delaware) and Providence. At Richmond the news from Philadelphia was received on Friday. Meetings of the directors of the several banks were immediately held, and a like course was agreed upon without loss of time. The Richmond Compiler says: This course by our banks, was one unavoidable; and adopted in justice to the banks themselves, to the trade and interests of Richmond, and to the State, which is a large stockholder in them all. For some time our banks have had to supply heavy demands upon them from the North for specie; and there were in this city yesterday morning, several Northern brokers, awaiting the hour of 9 o'clock, to make large drafts upon them. Our banks did not hesitate, and they ought not to have hesitated. They are justified by our citizens. Upon the annunciation of their determination, all was calm, and there was a general indication of satisfaction at the event. The people in the country may rest assured that our banks have taken their course under circumstances, and in a condition, which should impart the most perfect confidence in them. They will be ready to resume the moment the course of the Northern banks renders that expedient and proper. At Washington there was a considerable run upon the banks on Thursday. A meeting of directors was held in the evening, and on Friday morning the announcement was made. The banks at Norfolk which have suspended are the Farmers' and Virginia.-A slip from the office of the Norfolk Herald says that the Exchange Bank of Virginia has determined to go on paying specie. It is a new institution and has $300,000 of state stock in possession. Its circulation is, probably, not large. The Philadelphia banks issue notes of no less donomination than $10. The fives already issued are called in and redeemed with coin. Also the ones issued by the Girard Bank. The suspension of the Providence banks was agreed on, it isalleged,under the prevalent impression that the New York banks must go down. It is presumed that infornation to the contrary will produce a change of action. The banks at Trenton, New Jersey have not suspended, and the Gazette of that place says they will continue to pay specie so long as they are encouraged and sustained by the liberality and confidence of the public. It is reported that a delegation from the Boston banks has come to this city, for consultation with the officers of our institutions. It is said that their language is full of confidence, and that the Boston banks are prepared to offer assistance if it shall be needed by our institutions. This, however, sesms little probable, as there is no call for specie, and the public confidence appears to be increasing daily. Bank Meeting in Boston. A meeting of delegates from the different banka of Bos-


Article from Staunton Spectator, and General Advertiser, October 24, 1839

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THE SUSPENSION. From the Richmond Compiler, October 15. SUSPENSION OF SPECIE PAYMENTS. was received in this city yesterday of suspensions by the and Baltimore, and morning adelphia News Banks by the in U. Phil- S. Bank in New York, whereupon meetings of the Directors of ourdifferent Banks were convened and they resolved to suspend specie payments for the present. This course by our Banks, was one unavoidable; and adopted in justice to the Banks themselves, to the trade and interests of Richmond, and to the State: which is a large stockholder in them all. For some time our Banks have had to supply heavy demands upon them from the North for specie; and there were in this city, yesterday, several Northern brokers awaiting the hour of9 o'clock, to make large drafts upon them. But the Directors wisely closed the vaults against them, for it would have been suicidal to pay out when there are no longer means of replenishing, left them. The alternative was presented of suspending immediately, or of submitting to a drain through the brokers, which would in a few weeks either compel them to stop business or suspend specie payments. In the former case our trade would have stopped, and our merchants would have been ruined-in the latter the Banks would have weakened themselves in a manner that would have made resumption still the more difficult with them when the time might arrive. Our Banks did not hesitate, and they ought not to have hesitated. They are justified by our citizens.- the annunciation of their determination all was calm, and there was a general indication of satisfaction at the event. The people in the country may rest assured that our Banks have taken their course under circumstances and in a condition which should impart the most perfect confidence in them. They will be ready to resume the moment the course of the Northern Banks render that expedient and proper. The country has fallen into its present miserable condition, through a series of measures which have been levelled at the banking institutions of the State, and have involved the People and the Union in a common catastrophe. The National Bank was destroyed to strengthen the States; and to give them a better currency in the bills of their local institutions. Now the State banks must be destroyed, to strengthen the Federal Government; and to substitute the paper of the Treasury for the paper of the States. The whole process has carried through from the beginning, the whole war has been waged against the National Bank and the State Banks, to realise the original plan of Gen. Jackson for the organization of an Executive Bank, "with the necessary officersas branch of the Treasury department,"-with Mr. Woodbury for the President, Custom House Collectors as deputy presidents of the branches, and your whole Post Office department an association of financial agents and brokers. To this complexion comes the policy of the administration, painted though it may be an inch thick. Are the American people prepared to sacrifice the banking system of the States, to consummate this dangerous union of political and-monied power hands of the Federal Administration.-New York Courier. The Richmond Whig appropriately brings to mind the remark of T.H. BENTON, in ter, that "ANOTHER SUSPENSION BY THE BANKS MAY BE NECESSARY TO CARRY THROUGH THIS GREAT MEASURE"-meaning the sub-Treasury. This has been the whole and sole desire of the Government. "Give us a suspension," say "and can carry the sub-Treasury.' They have succeeded in their effortsperhaps will succeed in obtaining their darling measure. We shall at any rate see how far they can succeed in repairing the mischief all they have accomplished. The people of parties will lock anxiously for the result.BALT. PAT. "Shall ours be a Government of the Banks, or a Government of the People ?" asks a Van Buren paper. Since the expiration of the charter of the U. States Bank, the Jackson and Van Buren Legislatures of the several States seem to have vied with each other in the manufacture of Banks.-They have increased in the Van Buren States as fast as newspapers; and at the present moment, Van Buren men are giving notice throughout Maryland, of their determination to apply to the Legislature for Bank charters. Let the Van Buren people, then, answer the question. "Shall we have (continues the Van Buren paper) a constitutional treasury, or an unconstitutional treasury ?" We do not see that it is likely to make much difference what the treasury is, inasmuch as the public money is carried off the new kind of public treasurers as rapidly almost as it is collected. Nothing of this kind took place when the public funds were kept by the United States Bank.--Balt. Chron. The gratification of the office-holders at the suspension of specie payments may be traced to the fact that now, asduring the late suspension, they can make a "handsome penny" by selling the specie checks they receive for their salaries. Specie will perhaps be worth 5, 10, or 15 per cent., and the officers of the government being paid in specie can readily make the evchange for bank notes, much to their pecuniary advantage. "One currency for the government and another for the people, is their delight, and so long as they can preserve this state of things they will doubtless doit.-Balt. Chron. PUT UP THE FENCE! The opinion prevails extensively-it spreading widely, and the conviction of its correctness the with all resources, in United cannot States, grows get along stronger smoothly, her and mighty stronger-that her business affairs, without the aid of protecting tar-


Article from Maumee City Express, November 2, 1839

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FREDEICK, MD.-The Banks in this place, says the Philadelphia U. S. Gazette, have suspended. NORFOLK, VA.-The - Norfolk Beacon says: 'The Branch of the Bank of Virginia at this place suspended specie payments yesterday, as also did the Farmer's Bank, on the receipt of the intelligence of the suspension of the banks of Philadelphia and Baltimore. The Exchange Bank of Virginia, in this place, did not suspend, and will, we trust, be able to sustain itself against the severe current which is setting in against cur banking institutions' RICHMOND, VA.-.-We learn from the Richmond (Va.) Compiler, that the banks of that city have all suspended specie payments.--Cin. Buckeye.