Union Bank of South Carolina (Charleston, SC)

Episode Information

Episode UID
3936438290478
Episode Type
Suspension โ†’ Reopening
Bank Type
state
Bank ID
393643829 hash
Start Date
October 14, 1839
Location
Charleston, South Carolina (32.777, -79.931)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini (chosen from majority vote of a three-model LLM ensemble)
Short Digest
5c79ca0a2bf3a9e6

Response Measures

None

Events (2)

1. October 14, 1839 Suspension
Cause
Macro News
Cause Details
Coordinated suspension in Charleston in response to the Philadelphia suspension and widespread southern panic following it
Newspaper Excerpt
a meeting ... it was resolved to recommend to their several Boards to suspend Specie Payments forthwith
Source
newspapers
2. July 19, 1840 Reopening
Newspaper Excerpt
the Planters' & Mechanics' Bank of Charleston resumed specie payments on the 19th inst.; the other banks have all resumed specie payments
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (4)

Article from Morning Herald, October 19, 1839

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Article Text

# MONEY MARKET. ## Friday, October 18-6 P.M. Wall street remains exceedingly quiet, and all idea of a sus- pension of our banks has vanished; at the Stock Exchange prices again fell; United States Bank opened at 78ฤฏ and closed at 72, which is a decline of 10 per cent since the board yesterdy morn- ing-Delaware & Hudson declined 1 per cent-Kentucky 4 per cent-Harlem 1 per cent. In sterling exchange there is as much doing as the scarcity of money will permit. The bills selling by the banks at 9 per cent or $4 86 the ยฃ sterling are taken freely and fully meet the object in drawing, viz: to stop the export of specie. We know of an eminent firm who had previously insured $14,000 to ship, but withdrew it and deposited the amount with the Bank of Commerce, taking bills in preference. There is there- fore, not the slightest call for specie, while the amounts in the banks are daily increasing; $200,000 arrived at New Orleans on the 9th instant, from St. Louis, and destined for this port. Exchange on the South is merely nominal and may be put at 16 to 20 for all south of Philadelphia; on that city sales have been made at 87, on Mobile 87ฤฏ, Baltimore 89. Uncurrent money stands as follows: U. S. Bk. bills, 16 to 20 dis. Rhode Island, 10 to 12 dis. Eastern, 1 to 2 " Safety Fund, to 1 " Bills of new bks, 3 to 5 " Southern, 20 to 25 " The directors of the Yates County and the two Oswego Banks are now in the city endeavoring to make some arrange- ment for the redemption of the bills of those Banks. The bills of the Dutchess County Bank are received at par by the New York Banking Company, 14 Wall street. It is stated in a Buffalo paper that articles of association were filed last week for the Union Bank of Buffalo, which will com- mence operations immediately. J. Salter, President; S. J. Powers, Cashier. The bills of the Washington County Bank, at Calais, (Maine,) are not received at the Suffolk Bank. The Attorney General of Pennsylvania has sent a circular to each of the Philadelphia Banks, wherein he states that pro- ceedings wil be instituted against any Bank issuing bills of a less denomination than $5. It is stated that an Injunction has been issued by the Vice Chancellor, by which the discounts maturing in the United States Bank in New York are held for the benefit of the holders of post notes of the United States Bank, made payable in New-York. The specie which was recently drawn from the east in favor of our banks, has, it is stated, been returned in many instances. The eastern banks are perfectly quiet, although the mercantile classes are severely pressed. The merchants of Boston held a meeting on Tuesday evening, when it was resolved to call upon the banks to step forward and furnish some relief. We under- stand by letter, that the banks have, in consequence of the meet- ing and the encouragement afforded by the firm position of New York, resolved to discount to the extent of 8 per cent. on their capital, which will be to the extent of $500,000. The effect of the Philadelphia suspension is progressing south; each mail brings accounts of banks that have suspended. The following is a list of the bank suspensions so far as heard from: Banks of Philadelphia Baltimore, Harrisburg, Frederick, Maryland, York, Wilmington, Del. Chahambersburg, Washington, Gettysburg, Georgetown, Norfolk, Richmond, Charleston, S. C. Rhode Island, The news of the Philadelphia suspension reached Charleston on the 14th, and a meeting was held immediately, consisting of delegates from the Union Bank, State Bank, Bank of South Carolina, Louisville, and Charleston Rail Road Bank, and the Planters and Mechanics' Bank, when it was resolved to sus- pend forthwith. This will, probably, be the case throughout the south and west. We observe in the proceedings of the meetings of the southern banks a greater degree of unanimity and decision in suspending than in the more northerly institu- tions. At Charleston they were unanimous-at Richmond one or two of the banks voted against it-at Washington the Patriotic bank did not concur with the others in suspending.- Several of the Baltimore banks did not feel the necessity of the measure, and in Philadelphia nine of the banks, the names of which we gave yesterday, voted decidedly against it. The New York and eastern banks do not recognise the neces- sity or the convenience of the measure, with the ex- ception of Rhode Island, where the banks have shown a most unworthy subserviency to southern opinions, but even there six out of 20 banks voted against it. Rhode Island is pe- cularly situated; most of the bank loans amounting to $12,000,- 000, are directly or indirectly payable at the south. She has, therefore pursued the mistaken policy of depreciating her currency, in order to save the difference. From the west we have not not heard the effects of the explosion; but as it is the season when their greatest wealth is most available, it is pos- sible they may go through safely. All the banks south of Philadelphia to New Orleans, will doubtless stop. New Orleans is, however, strong, and her position, like New York, is such, that she will form a rallying point for the trade and healthy currency of that section, and the three points of New Orleans, New York and Boston will form the skeleton of the healthy trade which will rise out of the ruins of the unlimited credit system which reached its zenith in 1836, and has finally perished with the wasted energies of the United States bank, that thought to sustain and regene- rate it. Up to 1836 there was a regular increase of credit and busi- ness throughout the United States, fostered by a rapid increase of paper credits. This business far outrun the natural busi- ness of the country; that is, the soil and manufactures did not furnish produce and actual wealth so fast as the representatives of wealth increased. The consequence was that every class of dealers could command more money than their business required. That money was not allowed to remain idle, but sought new ob- jects of traffic. The most general object fixed upon was real estate, stocks, &c.; almost every class of society invested more or less in real estate, of a description which was actually worth nothing. The means to make these investments constitute the great mass of the increase of bank loans which took place in two years, from 1835 to 1837, amounting to $200,000,000. If a miller at the west drew on the city factor for $8,000, $6,000 of that was to buy corn, and $2,000 to invest in water lots. In the south, cotton was made the basis of similar operations. Large amounts of bills were drawn on England by banks having no funds there, and sold to dealers who gave their notes and raised the money on the bills, which money was spent in real estate.


Article from Edgefield Advertiser, October 24, 1839

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From the Courier. Oct. 15th. CITY OF CHARLES TON. OCTOBER 14, 1839, At a meeting of the Committees from the Union Bank, State Bank, Bauk of SouthCarolina, Louisville, Cinciunan and Charleston Rail Road Bank, and Planters. and Mechanic's Bank, held this day, It was resolved to recommend 10 their several Boards to suspend Specie Payments forthwith, and that the following address to the Public, be published in the several papers of this city, with the concurrence of the above named Banks. The several Boards having concurred in the recommendation of their Committees -the address is as follows: "FELLOW-CITIZENS:-A unexampled crisis has arisen-threatening, if not umely provided for, to bring upon this commiumty the greatest distress--it therefore becomes the imperative, though painful duty, of those whose interest it is to watch over the monetary concerns and credit of this State, to adopt such measures as are called for by the present emergency. Your Committee feel the deep responsity which has devolved uponthem, and are auxious to justily 10 the State, and to the world, the course of proceeding which may be adopted ou this occasion. They think it proper to observe that the Banks of this city have in good faith, notwithstanding the extraordinary pressure of the times, punetually aud cheerfully redeemed their puper; and, at the same name, afforded such accommodation to a sullering community as it was in their power to give, and they confidently believe. that but for events al. together beyond their control, would have continued to do so. It 10 known to our fellow citizens, that the Banks of Philadelpaia, with the Bank of the United States at their head, and the Banks of Balumore: have suspended specie payments, which must from necessity. be followed by those of New-York, and our other commercial cities. The effect would be (if not presented) to draw for shipment abroad, etcry dollar from the Banks of this city without the power on their part 01 replemshing their collers except at the most rumous sacrifices, involving for want of accommodation to the cinzeuse. ery mad at all con. nected W th the agricultural or commerciall concerns of the country iu unparulleled distress. "Your committee state the fact that by the last steamers since the suspension, in the cities before alluded to, large drafts and amounts have come on and are now waiting to know the result of the proceedings of this meeting. And your Committee be. lieve that they with in a few days be fullowed by many others whose object is reek less speculation, regardless of the :pultipli edills which they bring upon this country. With feelings, therefore. of great pain and distress, but called for by what they consider an irresistable necessity. your Committee are satisfied that the measure accompanying this address adopted by this meeting, is the only step which could have been taken at thisextraordinary Juncture."


Article from Morning Herald, July 23, 1840

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# MONEY MARKET. Wednesday, July 22--6 ะ . ะœ. There was a little reaction in the stock market to-day, from the continued fall which has been manifest for some days back. Harlem improved per cent, United States Bank 14, Delaware and Hudson, 1, North American Trust and Banking Company, Mohawk 1, New Jersey. Bills on Philadelphia sold at 2a3 per cent. In uncurrent money there is no great change. The Millers' Bank of Clyde bills are bought at 15 per cent discount. There is in circulation a great many of the Stillwater Canal Bank of Maine bills, a concern which we have had occasion to notice before. These bills are not purchased by the brokers at all; the public should be cautious of them. The brig Confidence, arrived this morning from New Orleans, brought $100,000 in specie, consigned to D. Thomson, cashier of the Bank of America. The position of the United States Bank is such that a strict and rigid examination into its affairs, like that of the Manhattan Bank of this city, has become absolutely necessary for the salvation of what remains to the stockholders. The public are no strangers, to the immense losses that the bank has sustained, through those connected with it, nor the corruption and mal-administration of its affairs. The transactions of Thomas Biddle & Co., J. Cowperthwaite, Schott and others, have long been familiar to the public. Within the last few days, rumours of the heavy indebtedness of the ex-president Nicholas Biddle, to the bank, have had a powerful effect on the stock of the bank, and it has fallen 6 per cent in consequence. It recovered a little to-day, under the demands of the shorts; but the warmest friends of the banks are losing their confidence in it. Its suspension last fall convinced the impartial and independent portion of the public that the concern was rotten, to say the least. Since that period, facts have been developed, that have engendered the fears of the timid that the institution would be unable to pay its debts. The rumors now afloat in reference to its officers, are rapidly creating a disposition among those interested to realize at any cost, and get out of the bank as fast as possible. An investigation should be immediately instituted that will place the institution before the public in a right point of view. We mentioned on the occasion of the resumption of the banks of the District of Columbia, that the other southern banks would be driven into a similar course. Our correspondent to-day informs us that the Planters' & Mechanics' Bank of Charleston resumed specie payments on the 19th inst. The other banks have all resumed specie payments, as far as their balances are concerned. The Bank of Charleston made a demand upon the Union Bank on the 16th for a balance of $68,000, which was promptly paid in specie. Balances are readily settled in this way, to avoid paying interest. The other banks will no doubt all resume payments in full in the course of the present week. The banks are very much contracted, and no demand for specie exists from any quarter. The banks wisely take advantage of the present dull season to perfect their operations. The Bank of Charleston has, we believe, never suspended on its bills, and has never acknowledged the necessity of so doing; notwithstanding which, the profits of the bank have exceeded those of the other Charleston institutions. We have received the returns of the bank for the year ending July 1st, 1940; by which it appears that the profits of the bank have been, for the past year, $269,774; out of which, dividends at the rate of 8 per cent have been declared, amonnting to $246,432, leaving $23,342 to be carried to the surplus fund, which now amounts to $226,454. The following is a statement of the affairs of the bank on the 30th June, 1840 : BANK OF CHARLESTON. JUNE 30. 1840.


Article from Southport Telegraph, August 25, 1840

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Resumption of Specre Payments by the Charleston Banks. - The Charleston Patrint of Saturday states that the Planters, and Mechanics' Bank, the South Carolina Bank, the Union Bank, the State Bank, and the South Western Railroad Bank, of Charleston, had resolved to resume specie payments forthwith. The Bank of Charleston, and the Bank of the State, not having suspended specie payments, all the Banks in Charleston now pay specie.