South Western Rail Road Bank (Charleston, SC)

Episode Information

Episode UID
66671290694
Episode Type
Run โ†’ Suspension โ†’ Unsure
Bank Type
state
Bank ID
6667129 hash
Start Date
October 12, 1857
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
03f65e835c966303

Response Measures

None

Description

Multiple reports show suspension amid the Panic of 1857; later status (permanent closure vs. reopening) is unclear.

Events (2)

1. October 12, 1857 Run
Cause
Macro News
Cause Details
Widespread financial panic of October 1857 (general drain and loss of confidence) prompted runs on Charleston banks.
Newspaper Excerpt
There was quite a run on all the banks of Charleston to-day.
Source
newspapers
2. October 12, 1857 Suspension
Cause
Macro News
Cause Details
Suspension occurred as part of the wider banking distress during the 1857 financial crisis and local runs on banks in Charleston.
Newspaper Excerpt
The Southwestern Railroad Bank ... suspended this morning.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (13)

Article from Evening Star, October 13, 1857

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Article Text

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS From the Associated Press Agent. The Financial Crisis, &c. NEW YORK, Oct. 12-The stock market in 10. day In a state of extreme depression. The feeling among merchants is one of great discouragement, but decideely in favor of the banks maintaining specie payments. The bank officers at a meeting held to-day declared unanimously that they would maintain specie payments all hazards. It is rumored that strong efforts are making by Albany banks to compel the New York city banks to suspend, and that the Governor expressed his willingness to call an extra session of the Legislature immediately, if necessary, to meet such an emergency. Among the resolutions passed bythe bank officers to-day the following: "Resolved, That in the judgment of this meeting no further contraction of loans is necessary, nor will there exist any.onstacleto such expansion of them as will afford necessary aid to bring forward the crops and alleviate the present commercial distress, unless it sball be created by the demands of causeless alarm." Two small city banks recently established are reported to have failed this afternoon. The report needs confirmation. There is a general drain upon all the banks In various ways, but the only serious features is the Inclination shown by depositors in some of the old banks to punish them for refusing facilities in the way of discounts. by drawing their deposits. The street is unusually excited. The Grocers' Bank of this city has suspended. It is understood that the bank contractions for the week will exceed $5,000,000. BUFFALO, Oct. 12.-The Pratt Bank has closed its doors. BOSTON, Oct. 10 -The Transcript learns from official sources, that in consequence of a delay in remittances from the East, and almost a total suspension of paper negotiations here, the Michigan Central Railroad has found it necessary to postpone the payment of its bills payable, until it can realize funds from the proposed subscription to its bonds on the 10th of November next. The payment of the coupons will be continued as usual. Sr. LOUIS, Oct. 12.-A. J. McCreary & Co., dry goods dealers, have suspended Also, Doane, King & Co., and Collins, Kirby & Co. The liabilities of the latter are about $1,000,000 each. AUGUSTA, Oct 12-The Southwestern Railroad Bank and the Bank of South Carolina, located at Charleston, have failed. There was quite a run on all the banks of Charleston to-day. NEW ORLEANS. Oct. -The failure of Messrs. Coming & Co., of New York, will not affect the Southern Bank. There are rumors this evening of some failures, but they are not authenticated Business is unsettled. [SECOND DISPATCH.] NEW YORK, Oct. 13-The Marine, Pacific, Irving, Merchants' Exchange, North River, New York Exchange, Citizens, and Ocean banks have suspended-eight in all. E. Fish & Co., and Brown & Cary, merchants, have suspended. Also, the Chatham and Bull's Head banks have suspended


Article from Worcester Daily Spy, October 13, 1857

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Article Text

More Suspensions. Augusta, Me., Oct. 12.-The Southwestern Railroad Bank and the Bank of South Carolina, suspended this morning. There is a run upon all the banks in Charleston.


Article from The Washington Union, October 13, 1857

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Article Text

The Banks in Charleston. CHARLESTON, Oct. 12.-The Southwestern Railroad Bank and the Bank of South Carolina suspended this morning. There is a run on all the banks.


Article from New-York Daily Tribune, October 13, 1857

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Article Text

THE BANKS IN CHARLESTON. AUGUSTA, Ga., Monday, Oct. 12, 1857. The South. Western Railroad Bank and the Bank of South Carolina suspended this morinng. There is a run upon all the banks in Charleston.


Article from The Day Book, October 14, 1857

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Article Text

Failure of Charleston Banks. AUGUSTA, Oct. 12.-The Southwestern Railroad Bank and the Bank of S. Carolina, located at Charleston, have failed. There was quite a run on all the banks of Charleston to-day.


Article from The National Era, October 15, 1857

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Article Text

Failure of Charleston Banks. Augusta, Oct. 12.-The Southwestern Railroad Bank and the Bank of South Carolina, located at Charleston, have failed. There was quite & run on all the banks of Charleston to. day.


Article from Yorkville Enquirer, October 15, 1857

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Article Text

THE CHARLESTON BANKS. The South Carolina, and South-Western RailRoad Banks have suspended. There has been a considerable run on the other banks, but they still continue to pay. See our "Charleston Correspondence," for particulars.


Article from The Daily Dispatch, October 16, 1857

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Article Text

CHARLESTON BANKS.-The banks of Charleston, S. C., which had suspended up to Tuesday evening, are: Bank of the State of South Carolina, South Western Railroad Bank, Bank of South Carolina, and People's Bank. The last-wamed stopped redemption Tuesday morning, in consequence of, or on notice of, a demand for a balance of some $22,000 due one of the banks of theinterior. The Charleston Courier says: In reference to the first suspension-the Bank of the State of South Carolina-and the peculiar and prolonged character of its issues, we have but to repeat that there is an absolute guaranty of security and indemnity, under any possible and conceivable catastrophe of banking experience or development, which leaves no excuse or pretext for any fear of sacrifice on the part of bill holders. The good faith and financial integrity of the State, may suffer technically a blunder, and the penalty of subjection to banking contingencies; but the State herself, in her own proper attitude and sovereign personality is, has been, and will be, beyond and above all approach or question of contamination. The suspension referred to, has excited some surprise in quarters beyond our State limits, but we are pleased to record, that as yet, we have seen no expression or even intimation of an opinion contrary to that we have confidently reiterated. The bills of this bank, accordingly, were paid and received yesterday.


Article from Nashville Union and American, October 20, 1857

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Article Text

LIST OF SUSPENDED BANKS. IN GEORGIA. Georgia Railroad and Banking Company, at Augusta. Union Bank, at Augusta. Manufacturers' Bank, at Macon. All the Banks in Savannah. SUSPENDED BANKS IN SOUTH CAROLINA. Bank of the State of South Carolina, at Charleston, with branches at Columbia and Camden. Bank of South Carolina, at Charleston. Bank of Hamburg, at Hamburg. Planters' and Mechanics' Bank, at Charlestsn. Farmers' and Exchange Bank, at Charleston. People's Bank, at Charleston. South-western Railroad Bank, at Charleston. This bank, we believe, has an agency at Tallahassee, Florida.


Article from The Winchester Home Journal, October 24, 1857

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Article Text

Suspended Banks. The following is a list of suspended banks in Georgia: Union bank, at Augusta. Manufacturer's bank, at Macon, All the banks in Savannah. The following is a list of suspended banks in South Carolina: Bank of the State of South Carolina, at Charleston, with branches at Columbia and Camden, Bank of South Carolina, at Charleston. Bank of Hamburg, Planters' and Mechanics' bank, at Charleston, Farmers' and Exchange bank, Charles. ton. People's bank, Charleston, South-western Railroad bank, Charleston.


Article from Fayetteville Observer, October 29, 1857

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Article Text

List of Suspended Banks. IN GEORGIA. Georgia Railroad and Banking Company, at Augusta. Union Bank, at Augusta. Manufacturers' Bank, at Macon. All the Banks in Savannah. SUSPENDED BANKS IN SOUTH CAROLINA. Bank of the State of South Carolina, at Charleston, with branches at Columbia and Camden. Bank of South Carolina, at Charles. ton. Bank of Hamburg, at Hamburg Planters' and Mechanics' Bank, at Charleston. Farmers' and Exchange Bank, at Charleston. People's Bank, at Charleston. South-western Railroad Bank, at Charleston. This bank, We believe, has an agency at Tallabassee, Florida. A CANDID ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF AN UNDOUBTED TRUTH-At a meeting of the proprietors and managers of the Western Railroads, held a few days ago in Columbus, Ohio, a debate arose concerning the affairs of the roads, when one of the members remarked "that the milroads of the country never could repay, if they were disposed, the debt due to the newspaper press for its powerful aid when the idea of a. railway had to be explained and popularized-the public benefitsshown, and the people induced to come forward and associate for the purpose of accemplishing the great works that now need no advocate." The same gentleman, in concluding a speech on the subject, said, "he could not forget the amount of unpaid labor performed in the infancy of railway building by the only men who could reach the popular ear and the popular heart in the most effective manner." We believe, (with the Alexandria Gazette,) that in regard to many of the railroads of the country, they owe their inception, progress, and completion, mainly to the exertions of the newspaper.


Article from Arkansas True Democrat, November 10, 1857

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Article Text

NO. 5. List of Suspended Banks. IN GEORGIA. Georgia Railroad and Banking Company, at Augusta. Union Bank, at Augusta. Manufacturers' Bank, at Macon. All the Banks in Savannah. SUSPENDED BANKS IN SOUTH CAROLINA. Bank of the State of South Carolina, at Charleston, with branches at Columbia and Camden. Bank of South Carolina, at Charleston. Bank of Hamburg, at Hamburg. Planters' and Mechanics' Bank, at Charleston. Farmers' and Exchange Bank, at Charleston. People's Bank, at Charleston. South-western Railroad Bank, at Charleston. This bank, we believe, has an agency at Tallahassee, Florida.


Article from Alexandria Gazette, January 21, 1858

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Article Text

The Comptroller General of South Carolina has demanded of the suspended banks of Charleston, payment of the second month's penalty, for suspension of specie payments, under the act of 1840. The Planters' and Mechanics' Bank, and the Southwestern Railroad Bank have anticipated the demand, and paid the penalty. The other suspended banks of the city have not yet paid. The Charleston Courier maintains that the Comptroller General has no right to exact this payment, the same having been released by the not of the Legislature, at its late session, suspending the operation of the act of 1840.