7582. Banks of New Orleans (New Orleans, LA)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Run → Suspension → Reopening
Bank Type
state
Start Date
May 4, 1857
Location
New Orleans, Louisiana (29.955, -90.075)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
ffda2f83

Response Measures

Full suspension

Other: Multiple Banks of New Orleans (plural) suspended and later resumed during the Panic of 1857; articles describe city-wide actions rather than a single institution taking extraordinary public measures.

Description

Multiple articles report a run on New Orleans banks during the May 1857 panic, the banks suspended specie payments (noted May 12, 1857) and then later resumed by November–December 1857. Cause is the nationwide financial panic (macro shock) that produced runs and suspensions. Bank name refers collectively to the city's banks.

Events (3)

1. May 4, 1857 Run
Cause
Macro News
Cause Details
Nationwide financial panic and local contagion: runs set in across cities after commercial failures and loss of confidence during the 1857 crisis.
Measures
Banks voted to suspend specie payments after one day's run; received city notes in payment of debts and paid them out to depositors (joint action among banks).
Newspaper Excerpt
MAY 4.-John Fleming, President of the Merchants' Bank, fell dead from excessive anxiety with regard to the affairs of the bank. A run set in on all the banks.
Source
newspapers
2. May 12, 1857 Suspension
Cause
Macro News
Cause Details
Suspension followed the widespread run and the broader 1857 financial panic; banks suspended specie payments in mid-May 1857.
Newspaper Excerpt
MAY 22.-News is received of the suspension of the New Orleans banks. (May 12.)
Source
newspapers
3. November 19, 1857 Reopening
Newspaper Excerpt
A dispatch from New Orleans announces that the banks of that city, which suspended during the panic, have again resumed.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (6)

Article from Evening Star, October 19, 1857

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Financial Matters. BOSTON, Oct. 17.-The result of the bank directors' meeting to-day authorizes an increase of loans to the extent of $3,000,000. The stock market is better, and there are more orders for investments coming. BRIDGEPORT, Conn, Oct. 16-The Connecti cut, Bridgeport, Farmers' and Pequonnock banks of this city have suspended specie payments. CINCINNATI, Oct. 17.-The money market here is unchanged. The failure of Messrs. Winslow, Lanier & Co., has produced some uneasiness in regard to Indian funds. At a meeting of the bankers of this city this morning, it was resolved to receive at par the notes of all the New Orleans banks, and all banks that are bankable in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburg, and Baltimore. This causes a much improved feeling in the money market. Sr. Lours, Oct. 17 -There has been a run on the banks to-day. The rumored suspension of the Bank of the State of Missouri is untrue. The directors 1837. hope to weather the storm as they did In JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind., Oct. 17-The branch of the State bank of Indiana, located here, to-day refused specie for its bills. NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 16.-The run on the banks has subsided and confidence restored. No further tailures are announced. The suspended free banks anticipate an early resumption. Money is easier. and business affairs are more cheerful. Philadelphia, Oct. 19.-Two prominent dry goods jobbers have suspended: one being Raignel & Co., the heaviest in the city. Their assets are very large.


Article from The New York Herald, November 9, 1857

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number in New York since March is stated at 280; in Boston, of failures 168. In New Orleans, Burke, Wall & Co. failed for twenty mill lions, carrying many others with them The price of negroes falls from $1 200 to $250 or $300 cash. The com mittee of merchants appointed at the Masonic Hall meet ing, have an interview with the President. They request him to rescind the Specie Circular, to defer commencing suits upon unpaid bonds, and to call an extra session of Congress. They say that in six months real estate has depreciated forty millions that local stocks have declined twenty millions; that 250 extensive houses have failed; that merchandise in warehouse has fallen 30 per cent in value, and that 20,000 persons have been discharged from ment employ MAY 4.-John Fleming, President of the Merchants' Bank, fell dead from excessive anxiety with regard to the affairs of the bank. A run set in on all the banks. Two banks at Natchez stopped. MAY 5.-There is a slight run on the Mechanics' Bank, and more failures MAY -United States Bank stock falls ten por cont. The HERALD predicts its crash. MAY 8.-Three Buffalo banks stop. United States stocks fall below par. There is great run on the Dry Dook Bank, and it shuts its doors. Another meeting of the merchants is held at Masonic Hall. The correspondence between the committee and the President is read. He refuses to revoke the Treasury Circular, but will think about" the other propositions. The great banking house of John Ward & Co. suspends. United States stock goes down to 95, and Morris is out of sight. MAY 10 After one day's run the banks, with three exceptions, (the Merchants' Manhattan Company and Bank of America), vote to suspend specie payments. The other three joined in the movement, being forced to it. The banks received city notes in payment of debts, and paid them out to depositors. Specie commanded premium. Bills on England were quoted at to 12½ per cent premium. Meeting of merchants in the Exchange pass reselutions to sustain the banks. MAY 11 The banks of Boston, Salem, Lowell, Providence, Philadelphia and Baltimore suspend specie payments. The HERALD publishes a list of 239 failures in New York. Specie commands 10 per cent premium. The Philadelphia banks having suspended, the Common Council authorized the issue of twenty five and fifty cent certificates for a new loan, which were accepted as currency; they were called city shinplasters. MAY Bank of the United States, Pennsylvania, suspends specie payments. MAY The Legislature of New York pass a law au thorizing the suspension of specie payments for one year. MAY 17 -The President calls an extra session of Con gress, to meet September 4. Great anti bank meetings are held all over the country. The Montreal banks suspend specie payment. Banks of Charleston, Cincinnati, Savannah and Quebec suspend. MAY 18.-The President issues a circular authorizing the United States District Attorneys to give six months time on payment of duties. The city is flooded with notes for small amounts issued by hotel and saloon keep ers. MAY 22.-News is received of the suspension of the New Orleans banks. (May 12.) Every bank in the country has now suspended. MAY -Cotton was firm and sales made at 81/2e. a 11c. We extract the following from a New York paper:- The amount of specie now going to Europe exceeds that of any period for five years past; it is the only way in which remittances can be made. The bill drawers have all disappeared, and if they had not they could not negotiate. Since the first of April not less than three millions in specie has been shipped. Very little cotton is going forward, owing to the fact that people do not know whom to ship to in the present state of affairs. Money is again getting tight; our banks, instead of increasing, are diminishing their loans. Specie has fallen, silver selling 6a 7, Spanish dollars a 10, American gold 6a7, and sovereigns 5.20 a 5.27. JUNE-Nothing new this month. Trade continues duM. The HERALD refuses to take bank notes at less than Wall street rates-12 per sent under specie, and pays out only specie. JUNE 3.-Stocks go up a little, and the HERALD reports a better feeling. Business of all kinds is very dull. The North River steamboats suspend their trips. The Brook lyn Bank resumed specie payments. The New York Board of Trade issue circular advocating a national bank. JUNE -English bills went up to 18 a 20 per cent premium for first class paper. JULY.Stocks went up a little, and the crisis was believed to be over. The HERALD (28th) calls on the banks to resume. The banks have $1,709,652 specie to $5,574,808 circulation. AUGUST-The fall trade commenced earlier than usual, and strangers began to flock in The imports, however, were very much reduced. On the 18th the banks issue a circular calling for a general convention to consider the question of resumption of specie payments The Manhattan had already resumed. There was still great dis tress in mercantile circles. SEPTEMBER 1.-Banks of Augusta, Ga., and South Carolina resume. SEPTEMBER 4.-The extra session of Congress met, and Mr. Van Buren sent in a message recommending a separation of the government from all banking institutions, the issue of ten millions of treasury notes, the enactment of a general Bankrupt law. and to leave commerce and the exchanges of the country to take care of themselves. The effect of this measure was to depress all the bank stocks. During this month things look a little brighter. SEPTEMBER Cotton quotations were sustained to 8c. a 113/2c. Exchange quoted 20 a 21. British government bills 30 days, 22. SEPTEMBER 17 .-Money was plenty, the banks discounting freely. United States bank stock 117% American gold 8½ premium. SEPTEMBER 24.-Gold plenty, and declined to 3½ 4 premium. United States bank (Pennsylvani stock 118. Exchange 15% 1616. SEPTEMBER .-Exchange declined to 14 a 14½ OCTOBER passed the bill authorizing the issue of ten millions of treasury notes, bearing six per cent in terest. Several of the New York banks resumed specie payments. Congress adjourned on the 10th. OCTOBER -Savannah, Ga., banks resumed. Exchange advanced to 15½ 16. OCTOBER -Cotton market stiff, and quotations range from 9c. a 12c. Exchange 15½ 16. OCTOBER 21 Cotton still stiff, and quotations 81/2c. a 12c. Exchange 15 151/2. Specie advanced. NOVEMBER.-The Bank Convention (135 delegates from eighteen States) met in New York city on the 9th. and continued in session till December 1. and then adjourned till April, declining to fix any time for resumption. At this Convention, Messrs. Adbert Gallatin, George Newbold, C. W. Lawrence, Cornelius Heyer, John J. Palmer, Preserved Fish and Gorham A. Worth were appointed committee to publish the views of the New York banks. Their address states that the withdrawal of the public depssits and of excessive foreign credits, with a great fall in the prices of the principal articles of export and an unprecedented import of breadstuffs. with the inability of the Southwestern States to pay their bills, fell all at once upon this city. The banks struggled with all this and with a foreign demand for specie, until some local incidents caused distrust and panic, and a general run commenced which no banks that pay specie for notes on demand can ever resist. Thus the banks of New York city suspended, after having been almost entirely drained of their specie, while the other banks through the country suspended im mediately after without waiting for a run, and kept their specie reserve. NOVEMBER 18 Exchange quoted 15 a 151/2 Specie declining shipments SO light as not to be worthy of notice. DEC EMBER -New Orleans banks resumed. DECEMBER 9.-A New York letter to Charleston paper says. "A packet salls to-day. carrying out commercial news highly favorable, which will gladden the hearts of all who have claims upon America. Exchange 11½ 12. Specie is only at premium because the banks are in pur suit of it. Produce shipments are large, and orders for imports very small which is the cause of the decline in exchange. The movement of cotton is bettering the rate of exchange in the South DECEMBER 16.-Exchange declined to 10 a 11. Cotton improved Me. DECEMBER 30 -Exchange quoted at 9½ a 9% 1838. JANUARY -Intelligence from Europe excited the cotton market. The sales are very large but there is no improvement in prices. Quotations 9 11 1/20. JANU ARY 13 -More activity in the cotton market than known for several years. Prices advanced 11/2c. JANUARY 19 -One of the city papers of this date, says:" We are enabled to say, on authority that the banks of Philadelphia are ready to resume specie payments whenever the New York banks do. Although they won't name the day they pledge themselves to resume the day after the New York banks.' A few days after, another city paper said :- We understand that the Com. mittee of the Banks came from Philadelpia on Saturday, not with a big flea in their car at all, but with good din ner. which Mr. Biddle gave them. As to the resumption of specie payments the state of exchange was not thought fit to warrant the fixing of a day for that purpose.' FEBRUARY Exchange declined to 81/2 FEBRUARY 10.-Cotton declined. and quoted 9c. a 11 Ve. FEBRI ARY 22.-Specie declining: sales at 2a21/2 premium Contracts made to deliver specie 1st of May at 1 per cent. premium, without interest. It is daily arriving. and in R month or two the receipts from Europe must


Article from Evening Star, November 19, 1857

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IT A dispatch from New Orleans announces that the banks of that city, which suspended during the panic, have again resumed. The banks of Boston, it is said, are prepared to resume. Spesie is rapidly pouring in New York, and a letter from that city, dated Tuesday evening, says: Our city banks are now so strong in their specie reserves $20,000,000) that they are abundantly able to resume specie payments.


Article from Shepherdstown Register, November 28, 1857

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Good News.-There are reasons for believing that the Banks of the country will resume specie payments much sooner than has been anticipated. Within a few days past we have received numerous indications in support of such belief. Already the Banks of New Orleans has resumed-and it is stated that the Banks of Boston are prepared to resame. It is be. lieved, too, that the Banks of New York will be ready on the 1st of January, if not sooner. The New York "Journal of Commerce" estimates the specie in the banks of that city at $22,000.000; a larger amount by several millions than was ever in the banks before. A letter from New York says: "Our city banks are now so strong in their specie reserves ($20,000,000) that they are abundantly able to resume specie payments. Some of the prominent bank men in the street to-day said they are willing to take that step as soon as the country banks areready to 'second the motion.' In point of fact, specie payments at the counters of the principal banks are already resumed. Gold is SO plenty that the suspension is only nominal." Both North and South there are signs of speedy resumption. The panic is nearly over-failures have eeased-confidence is taken the place of distrust-and specie coming from its biding places. Resumption by the Banks of New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore will no doubt be the signal for similar action by all the Banks of the country.


Article from New Orleans Daily Crescent, December 3, 1857

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The New York Herald vauntingly refers to the alleged fact that the fifty-seven suspended banks of that city have ,000,000 specie in their vaults. It has been more than hinted that a very considerable proportion of this specie belongs to special depositers, and not to the banks themselves. But, assuming that it does really belong to the banks, how do they stand in strength when compared with the specie paying banks of New Orleans? comparison of facts makes the boastings of the Herald as valueless as the idle wind. According to the statement of last Saturday, the specie in nine of the banks of New Orleans -the other two having not yet commenced businessamounted to nearly eight millions of dollars. Now, to make the banks of New York relatively as strong, so far as coin is concerned, as the banks of New Orleans, and proceeding on the Herald's proposition or rather boast, the banks of the former city should have, instead of twenty-five millions, something like fifty millions current coin in their vaults! Thus is exploded one of the principal assertions of the vain-glorious boaster of the Gibraltar of the commercial world." The reference to the banking institutions of England, France and the other States of Europe, is on a par with the rest-just about as devoid of fact. But, for a self-constituted champion of suspended banksbanks that toppled over at the very beginning of the commercial crash-banks that were so weak that they could'nt meet a run of forty-eight hours' duration-to stigmatize other financial systems as rotten is the very heighth of impertinence. But, continues the Herald, pursuing untruth with a perseverance that would be admirable in a truthful cause The Banks of New York are now the only sound financial institutions in the world." If suspensions of specie payments-if deranging the currency of a continent-if dragging hundreds of solvent institutions down to their own insolvent level-and if giving forth no earnest of an early resumption of debt-paying to the public-make the New York Banks the only sound financial institutions in the world"then they are indubitably sound, sound as a drum, a hollow log, or à questionable saddle of mutton. 4 The Banks of Mobile never suspended specie payments on any of their liabilities. Does the editor of the Herald consider them sound ? Evidently not, for he asserts that the suspended banks of New York, are the only sound financial institutions which exist anywhere. But three of the nine banks of*New Orleans suspended temporarily, and all are now paying specie, and occupy positions that are impregnable, yet if the proposition of the Herald be well founded, they are not as sound as the banks of New York because they have not repudiated their obligations to the public and their customers, and suspended ! If they would only suspend, perchance some portion of the respectability exclusively enjoyed by the sound financial institutions of Gotham might fall to their share. With one recommendation of the Herald we cordially agree, and hope it may be carried out at an early day, viz: that the Banks of New York "at once resume specie payments." If they, and the Western banks would only resume, the Banks of New Orleans would be enabled to afford that ample relief to the commercial community it so deeply requires. But until they do, any great expansion on the part of our institutions is out of the question. The products from which the Herald is going to make New York "the leading commercial metropolis" of the world do not happen to be raised in its section of the country. Its premises being wrong, its conclusions must also be wrong. " We have the cotton, corn and coin in abundance," quoth the Herald. Not so. You haven't any cotton at all. All the cotton is raised in slave States, and without cotton your " commercial" fabric would quickly fall to pieces. Perhaps you'll lose the cotton sooner than you imagine. As for corn, according to the last census, the slave States raised three or four millions of bushels more than the free States and nine-tenths of the coin comes from California. So it appears that the three great products by means of which New York is to be transformed into " the leading commercial metropolis" of the world, are not indigenous to its portion of the confederacy, and the two most important of them-cotton and coin-are liable to be turned into other channels any year. Should a disruption ensue, the cotton of the South will not be employed to build up the mercantile greatness of New York as it now is; and all far-seeing men admit that the probabilities are ten to one that California will set up for herself within a decade, and if she does, she will certainly take care of her own native coin, and build herself up by the use of it-not New York. THE SUNDAY School. CONCERT The NICHT The


Article from Oroville Daily Butte Record, December 17, 1857

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The U.S. guarantees the protection and neutrality of the route. The transit is to be free to all nations. The U. S reserves the the right to transport the mails across Isthmus. The usual stipulations of good will commences and negociations are Transit appended to the instrument Some of the Company are mentioned in the treaty. Despatches have been received at Wash- the ington confirmatory of the report of capture and destruction of government is sta provision trains by the Mormons. It ted that Col. Johnson was determined to enter the Valley of the Great Salt Lake, and the route had been changed in order to reach that point by a road less obstructed by SDOW, than the one originally adopted. The Mormons were assembling in large force to oppose the advance of the troops. Harney with a large force, will be des- as patched for the scene of action, as soon he can make an entrance into the territory The Banks of New Orieans have all resumed specie payment. The New York Banks, now almost bursting with a plethora of coin, will soon follow the example. The Coltins Steamship Adriatic returned from her Engineers trial trip, on Monday morning, having satisfied the competent fastest gentlemen on board that she is the steamship afloat Her greatest speed hour was 18 nautical and 21 statute miles in one and three minutes, using only about twothirds of her available steam, and about one-half laden. The factories in all parts of the country are resuming work. Col. THOMAS H. BENTON has puplished long communication in a Washington paa on the banks and the currency designper, ed to meet the suggestions in favor of the had establishment of a national bank, which the appeared in the public journals since commencement of the financial revulsions The Colonel still cherishes his ancient enmity the to bank notes, and warmly advocates imnt The drop steamship currency. Philadelphia, which left the 9th inst., for New York, encountered off on violent gale on the day following, when broke a coast of Florida. On the 13th she her shaft, thereby disabling her engines, but succeeded in reaching Charleston. The American horses Prioress and Baby lon made an inglorious performance for the 31 Cambridgshire Stakes at New Market. in horses ran, and Babylon actually came last, Mr. Parr's Odd Trick was the winner. California bonds 7s75; sold on the 19th Nov. at 69 ets. The Legislature of Texas declared Sena- J. P. Henderson and J. W. Campbell U. S. tors to succeed Gen. Heuston and Rusk According to the latest advices Wisconsin is has gone democratic and James B. Cross Governor elect. ALABAMA--The new Legislature of this State commenced at Montgomery, on Tues10th inst. J. M. Calhoun of Dallas day County was chosen President of the Senate, and C. M. Jackson Speaker of the House. MISSISSIPPI. The Legislature having counted votes for Governor of that State, folat October election, announced the cast lowing result: For Wm. MeWillie 28,376; for M Geiger 14,345 ; majority for McWillie sleep, 14,031. The democrats made a clean electing the State ticket by an average maj of 20,000 over the Republican. LOUISIANA.--The whole Democratic State ticket is elected in Louisiana. The Congressional election will consist of three democrats and one American. OHIO.-The legislature is Democratic- Gov. The plurality for Chase, (Repub.) for ernor over Payne, is 1503. Fremont's plurality over Buchanan was 16,623. Europe. Our advices are highly important. The steamers Arabia, City of Washington the Fulton, have taken out the news of Bosand suspension of the banks in New York, the and throughout the north, but reton. had not produced any serious effect mea- on ports London market, owing in a great the to the reception of the news in failures London sure the fall of Delhi. A number of of however reported, including the gusare pension of the borough of Liverpool. American stocks were unsettled, but there had been some operations in state securities