23133. Banks of Wheeling (Wheeling, WV)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Suspension → Reopening
Bank Type
state
Start Date
April 1, 1841
Location
Wheeling, West Virginia (40.064, -80.721)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
2762c33a

Response Measures

None

Description

Articles indicate the Wheeling banks suspended after being 'allowed to suspend' by the state legislature (around 1841-04-01) and later resumed specie payments (resumed on the 15th, reported 1842-09-29). Article explicitly states there was no run. Bank type not stated explicitly in articles.

Events (2)

1. April 1, 1841 Suspension
Cause
Government Action
Cause Details
Suspension was permitted/authorized by the State Legislature (banks did not suspend until permitted by the Legislature).
Newspaper Excerpt
they were allowed to suspend, and did suspend.
Source
newspapers
2. September 15, 1842 Reopening
Newspaper Excerpt
The Wheeling Gazette mentions that the Banks of that city resumed specie payments on the 15th, and that there was no run upon them, every body having entire confidence in their solvency.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (3)

Article from Daily Richmond Whig, July 5, 1841

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Article Text

# WHEELING BANKS. The Wheeling Times, of Thursday, thus speaks of the difficulty respecting the Wheeling notes in this section. The editor asserts that the Bank never was in a more sound condition. We have never doubted but that the Bank was sound, yet we felt constrained to give the reports as they were current on the lines of travel. We regret much to see comments that have been made in some of the Eastern papers relative to our banks, particularly the Merchants' and Mechanics' Bank of Wheeling. In the Richmond Whig we find the announcement that the notes of our banks will not be received, except on special deposit, after the 1st of July. There is a reason for that, and, doubtless, a good one, which by no n.cans affects the credit of the institution. Exchange on the east for any western paper, here, is seven to eight per cent, of course Wheeling money would be at near that discount in Baltimore and Philadelphia, say five per cent. Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and other western money was much worse, or not taken at all. Therefore our merchants took east Wheeling Notes. Wagoners, who went west and took western paper, stopped here on their return and exchanged their money for Wheeling money, because they could pass the latter at the east. Therefore considerable sums found their way into Baltimore. This was bought by the brokers and sent to Richmond as the most convenient point at which it was bankable, where they purchased drafts on Baltimore at 1 per cent. making 3 per cent. at least by the operation. After the suspension the Richmond Banks could not demand any thing of the Wheeling Banks but the common currency or eastern funds at the current rates, therefore they would lose. Again, Wheeling money was bankable, was taken for State revenues, and was sent there in payment of those dues. Thus, the paper was found in Richmond to such an extent as to lead to the natural resolution by the Banks there. On the strength of the brokers in Baltimore started the report of the failure of the Merchants' and Mechanics' Bank, when what was the fact? Its very credit was the cause of the falsehood. The bank was never in a more sound condition than it is now. It is doing business as usual, and in better credit any where within an hundred miles than the banks of Ohio, Indiana or Kentucky. To make the matter worse, a very respectable paper, the Chambersburg Repository, makes a very unwarrantable attack upon the Merchants' and Mechanics' Bank for the issue of post notes. Why is this? As we have said, exchange on the east has been, the last year, five to seven per cent. for current funds. Specie, of course, was at a premium of four to six. The Banks of Wheeling did not suspend until permitted by the Legislature, on or about the 1st of April last. During the last year, then, these banks must refuse in payment of dues or on deposite the money of all the western banks, which had all suspended, and leave the people of Wheeling with no currency, or issue post notes, as they could not circulate their demand paper, because specie and eastern fonde commanded the enormous premium named. For the accommodation of this region of country, post notes were issued and received at any time in payment of debts, on deposite; treated, whether due or not, as the notes of suspended banks were treated by the banks issuing them, and when due redeemed in specie. Last winter the Legislature expressed its disapproval of post notes-the banks here immediatly quit issuing them-at the same time they were allowed to suspend, and did suspend. We have but to remark, further, that if any one has notes of any banks here, whether they are due or not, they will find them treated precisely as demand paper, and we ask ali men of common sense, if they do not think these post notes, under such circumstances, as good, and a hundred per cent. better, than the new issues of the Pennsylvania banks that are convertible, heaven knows when. We dislike the practice of bringing sound and useful banks before the public, and only do it when we see men led into error, unintentionally, as we believe to be the case with the Baltimore and Chambersburg papers.


Article from Richmond Enquirer, December 29, 1841

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Article Text

and of from the Mr. been nch the near the and asked on the North; On that infor the from member the on mation, the say Wood, gentlema for he to rewell subject; Banks prepared that he had some misunde said Mr the intowards the its for what of the the the of House Teman, when charter 1823, far and was of the the by votes of his would had done refer for to the plication records carried for the against memWestern to be to railroad bers: to her had obligations J Mr. mind, his facts these for him to the that gentle suppose of his with section as the being supposed, gentleman disclaimed did not of He claim banks Wheeling of the people organ owledged of and their inions. wishes on his own asserted voted the exponent that, As was Western portion man, of the State, to on made of that Western and hoped them remind and ention views of his the West, of the facts breeze to what was in Richmond the sus retheir closed be might see the Banks of vaults, and was called This his in all was true this the of true railwentially Banks law mercantile up Ahutting Banks, and the specie this maintain this instead General of position, crash, had to by the , vited regislature of fact the of the face that these adduce It not un was ded, the suspen Western bebut of the bv the Legisla he the said had based stateMr. facts and on these him ce at nt in per sold had turkersburg East was mak now which the that State, was, of the paid part Western Virginia, the by bonds were These bonds per 99. cent. banks Wheeling be would which obtained for the they would The Richmon thus being requi as in of State Richmond in Parkers in efwere, to his he according to each other connect pet. That of Bank It and suspend of course ability the ed the that the fact the hole during banks was SUSof the Virginia Bank he had thought Bank the occupied That Bank the Bank Virginia to loss large the Company ince or of When debt. the due The debt and daily from years, to be subjected separately nd its owe and scaled J. Mr and thoug done. of do could Bank Virginia sinnot he said had other heard opinion of the of the sus. J. Mr. said great the total of the eve they with their the from had that The their than the 19 Banks Nor in or the on drafts funds, Mr to this, With specie. their engag surely to forced suspend J. Mr. admit delinquency recer had Banks but the from State; the and drafts Balange of hold the The Banks of the out to law by com three they it until and not to for the provide the by and girBanks, m the of the due the he had the to in order of of He the banks the had State become unfortunate the these holding He was them bound to he had him as speak of his was and only object banks, the would interprotect had J. de Mr. from was (Mr J.) en their not did speak of from nastily facts and which to the ouse they the he which had come warrant to the Mr which on said the the made Wes North ern be could con Banks, their ful dition the of had been The bank be or free taint rush press any no it fall how matter must solvent to all its bank pay of the Mr though to yet he was ready the Richmond to shew the by the Rich occasioned the North out and pay North holding in and Rich having make the and always brokers the North the Richmond n from entleman a re to meet obtain who was man, the Whig party included by him in his the efforts real ha which money was so the


Article from Staunton Spectator, and General Advertiser, September 29, 1842

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Article Text

The Wheeling Gazette mentions that the Banks of that city resumed specie payments on the 15th, and that there was no run upon them, every body having entire confidence in their solvency.