7393. Union Bank of Maryland (Baltimore, MD)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Run Only
Bank Type
state
Start Date
March 24, 1834
Location
Baltimore, Maryland (39.290, -76.612)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
d923314c09df3a65

Response Measures

None

Description

Newspaper reports from March 1834 describe an immense run on the Union Bank of Maryland following the stoppage of payment by another Baltimore state-chartered institution (the Bank of Maryland). No article reports the Union Bank suspending or closing; only a run is described. Date of run inferred from Senate remarks of March 25, 1834 (references to yesterday); I use 1834-03-24 for the run date. OCR errors in original texts corrected (e.g., references to 'stopped payment' and 'immense run').

Events (1)

1. March 24, 1834 Run
Cause
Local Banks
Cause Details
Run was triggered by the stoppage of payment by the Bank of Maryland and the supposed/actual connection between the Bank of Maryland and the Union Bank of Maryland.
Newspaper Excerpt
there was, yesterday, an immense run on the latter Bank. The streets of Baltimore, in the vicinity of the Bank, were yesterday crowded by People pressing to obtain metallic currency for the paper in their hands.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (3)

Article from Alexandria Gazette, March 27, 1834

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Article Text

MARYLAND BANKS. In the Senate on Tuesday, Mr. CLAY rose said that he had heard, and he presumed and that every member of the Senate had also heard, that, yesterday, a Bank, chartered by the State of Maryland, and situated in Baltimore, had stopped payment. The evidence of the fact was to be found in the public prints of this morning. He had further heard, as he also presumed most of the Senate had heard, that, in consequence of a connection, supposed or had actual, between the Bank of Maryland, which thus exploded, and the Union Bank of Maryland, one of the Banks selected by the Treasury Department as a depository of the public revenue, there was, yesterday, an immense run on the latter Bank. The information which reached him was, that the streets of Baltimore, in the vicinity of the Bank, were yesterday crowded by People pressing to obtain metallic currency for the paper in their hands. The connection that between the two Banks was so intimate, stabiligreat danger was apprehended as to the ty of the Union Bank. In this Union Bank, it appeared, from the that returns made by the Treasury Department, himself the Secretary of the Treasury was a stockholder. To what extent the Secretary stockholder, did not appear, but his name of was a to be found on the list of the stockholders the was Union Bank, one of the Banks selected by him for the reception and charge of the public deposites. He had heard that the Secretary He a stockholder to a considerable extent. had was heard that the stock held by the Secretary of in that Bank constituted a considerable part time his property, and that he had been for some a Director in that Bank, pevious to his removal to this city. He hoped that it would turn out that the Union Bank was in a safe condition; and that there were no just grounds for the apprehension which seemed to exist, as to its safety. He hoped it would turn out that the Secretary of the Treasury was not a stockholder in this Bank to extent which could authorize an impression enter that any he had suffered his own interests to into the considerations which had led him to se lect this Bank as one of the depositories of the public He had money. also heard this morning, but he would not undertake to vouch for the truth of the ruthat, in consequence of the connexion between mor, the Union Bank and the Bank of Mary lank, a Treasury draft, or Treasury drafts, to the amount of 150,000 dollars, had, in the course of the last few days, been furnished to the Union Bank of Maryland, by the Secretary of the Treasury. He did not know how far this rumor was founded in act, but he did know that it was the official duty of the Senate to inquire into the fact, whether there was any= danger to the public interests which was likely to result from the circumstance of the public money being in that institution. After these remarks he would submit the folresolution, and would ask that it might be at this time, in order an lowing considered the Secretary: that early reply might be received from Resolved, That the Seeretary of the Treasury be directed to report to the Senate what amount of public money is now on deposite in the Union Bank of Maryland, and on what account it was deposited; and whether any Treasury drafts, contingent or other, have been, during the month of March, 1834, farnished to the said Bank enable it to meet any demands which might be made upon it. The motion to consider the resolution requiring the unanimous consent of the SenateMr. FORSYTH rose and said, that if the gentleman from Kentucky had introduced the resolution without any remarks, he would not have interposed any objection to its adoption. But, after what had been said, he thought it was due to the Secretary of the Treasury that he should have an opportunity of seeing the resolution.-The fact of the Secretary of the Treasury being a stockholder in the Union Bank of Maryland, was on record. but the extent to which he was interested was not known. He did not imagine, however, that it would be found. on examination, that the Secretary held sufficient stock to render it an object with him to select this Bank for the custody of any part of the public money. He objected to the consideration of the resolution at this time. Mr. CLAY said he would make one single remark. As he had already stated, he did not know the amount of stock held by the Secretain the Union Bank. He had heard that it ry was a considerable sum, and this he had heard when he was in Baltimore. The fnct, however, was apparent, that he had stock in the institution, and therefore the inquiry was a proper one. The resolution was then laid over.


Article from Richmond Enquirer, April 1, 1834

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Article Text

[Remainder in our next.] IN SENATE. Tuesday, March 25, 1834. MARYLAND BANKS. Mr. Clay rose and said that he had heard, and he presumed that every member of the Senate had also heard, that, yesterday, a Bank, chartered by the State of Maryland, and situated in Baltimore, 'had stopped payment. The evidence of the fact was to be found in the public prints of this morning. He had further heard, as he also presumed most of the Senate had heard, that, in consequence of a connection, supposed or actual, between the Bank of Maryland, which had thus exploded, and the Union Bank of Maryland, one of the Banks selected by the Treasury Department as a depository of the public revenue, there was, yest rday, an immense run on the latter Bank. The information which reached him was, that the streets of Baltimore, in the vicinity of the Bank, were yesterday crowded by People pressing 10.obtain metallic currency for the paper in their hands. The connection between the two Banks was so intimate, that great dan. ger was apprehended as to the stability of the Union Bank. In this Union Bank, it appeared, from the returns made by the Treasury Department, that the Secretary of the Treasury was himself a stockholder. To what extent the was a but his name Secretary stockholder, did not-appear, was to be found on the list of the stockholders of he-Union Bank, one of the Banks selected by him for the reception and charge of the public deposites. Re had heardithat the Secretary was a stockholder to a considerable extent He had heard that the stock held by the Secretary in that Bank constituted a considerable part of his property, and that he had been for some time a Director the Bank, previous to his removal to this city. He hoped that it would turn out that the Union Bank was in a safe condition; and that there were no just grounds for the apprehension which seemed to exist, as to safety. He hoped it would were out that the Secretary of the Treasury was not a stockholder in this Bank to any extent which could authorise an impression that he had suffered his own interests to enter into the considerations which led him to select this Bank as one of the depositories of the public money. He had also heard this morning, but he would not un. dertake to vouch for the (ruth of the rumor, that, in consequence of the connexion between the Union Bank and the Bank of Maryland, a Treasury draft, or Treasury drafts, to the amount of 150,000 dollars, had, in the course of the last few days, been fornished to the Union Bank of Maryland, by the Secretary of the Treasury. He did not know how far this remor was founded in fact, but he did know that it was the official duty of the Senate la inquire into the fact, whether there was any danger to the public interests which was likely to result from the circumstance of the public money being in that institution. After these remarks he would submit the following resolution, and would ask that it might be consideréd at this time in order that an early reply might be received from the Secretary: Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be directed to report to the Senate what amount of public money is now on deposite in the Union Bank of Maryland, and on what account it was deposited; and whether any Treasury drafts, contingentor other, have been, during the month of March, 1834, furnished to the said Bank to enable it to meet any demands which might be made upon it. This motion to consider the resolution requiring the unanimous consent of the SenateMr. Forsylh rose and said, that if the gentleman from Kentucky had introduced the resolution without any remarks, he would not have interposed any objection to its adoption. But, after what had been said, he thought it was due to the|Secretary of the Treasury, that he should have an opportunity of seeing the resolution. The fact of the Secretary of the Treasury being a stockholder in the Union Bank of Maryland, was on record, but the ex. tent to which he was interested was not known. He did not imagine, however, that it would be found on exami nation, that the Secretary held sufficient stock to render " an object with him to select this Bank for the custody of any past of the public money. He objected to the consideration of i resolution at this time. Mr. Clay said he would make one single remark. As he had already stated, he did not know the amount of stock held by the Secretary in the Union Bank. He had heard new


Article from Vandalia Whig and Illinois Intelligencer, April 17, 1834

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CONGRESSION AL. 1. SENATE-MARCH 25, 1834. Mr. CLAY S said he had just heard through he public prints, that one of the incorpo banks of Maryland, situate had failed. He a.so rated hat heard connexion in Baiti- that in of a more, consequence supposed Union bank that bank and the of one of the banks of the tretsury as a of the money in a made on that run between Maryland, ry the secretary was public selected that bank city, selected deposito- vester- great by for He hat teen informed that the of treasury was a to some extent, e not how in the Union be danger to public moneys day, stockholder might much, great secretary specie. the the bank did and know there now on there. He hopel it would the Union bank was turn out deposite sife and such that the secretary was not H stockh de to an amount that his interest coud be supto have induced him to selet hat a of posed bank as depository the public toney. of He had also heard that in apprehenson the Union bank, a treasury issued in its favor for and it was the other to look into it. He senate to had a run that been on bank, had dury $150000 therefre which Iraft prepared the following resolution, hoped no gentleman would object to being adopted immediately: Resolved, That the secretary of the treasury be directed to report to the senate, what amount of public money is now on deposite in the Union bank of Maryland what account it was deposited, and drafts, or have during furnished to it to meet any March, other, to on whother enable 1834, any treasury been, demands the the contingent said month which bank, of might be made upon it. Mr. FORSYTH said, if the gentleman had introduced the resolution without any remarks, he could have had no objection to after what had been he thought we to see the gentleman, some was was the of said it. But that time secretary resolution. the ought treasury said to by' It knew have the in the Union bank-he to what extent. in that the whatever it be, secretary, a nothing hesitation stockholder saying might But interest he had had select- of not the 00 had the slightest effec: on him in ing the bank as one of the public deposi tories. The resolution lies one day. BANK OF THE UNITED STATES. The VICE PRESIDENT having announced the special order to be Mr. Webster's motion for leave to bring in a bill to recharter the bank of the United States for six years: Mr. WHITE resumed, and concluded his argument against the bill. Mr. WEBSTER then took the floor, and said that he had not expected that on a motion for leave to bring in is bill, such a protracted debate would have ensued. had foreseen it, he would have been refrom interfering with the resolutions of sion strained he upon the the gentieman discus from Kentucky. in his judgment, any refor the distresses of the coun must be carried through congress of opinion out h was the distracted state comr try lief the Such action present public of of the expected doors. by munity, that no relief could be to sentiment gives a direction d measures. till some public specific And with introduce this object he had moved for leave to in with a view to action upon it t hereafter. But it of debate, and motion for leave, due this the on a season bill, subject other if had it topics It went become were with on to be introduced into it. was reluctance he of could not consent to a SO believed it was of likely great traordinary-he but he interrupted thing the the debate firs ex time such a thing had ever occurred.there had been nothing like it since he ha g 18 been in the senate. He was constrained therefore, to endeavor to make a disposi th tion of it. His object was to place y I proposition for relief before the country He therefore moved to lay the subject cal the table, and intimated his intention to