The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-11-13

FURTHER EXTRACTS FROM
QUODLIBET.

QUODLiDEis
Theodore Fog, drunken Pettifogger, ana
Nicodemus Handy, broken lottery agen,. pu'
their heads together and determine TO establish
bank with 4 capital OF half million OF dollars,
.the stock 500 share, Of which 81 was 10 De
maid in. and The remainder 10 be secured by pro
nissoyv notes PAYABLE on demand, " conreni-
eaf.n The plan was opened, in speech from
Fox, at a meeting held at a tavern called The
Hero ten persons being present, counting Fer
ret, the proprietor, and Tim Porter, the bar
keeper:
Through the lberalty of Fog the necessary cash
was supplied of three hundred dollars the remains
Of trust fund in his hands belonging TO family oil
orphans in the neighborhood Of Tunibledown, VINO
had not yet had occasion know from their attorney
the said Theodore Fog himself Of their success IN
cause relating to this fund which had been gained
some months before As Nicodemus managed me
subscripGons which indeed he did with wonderful
skill these three hundred dollars went great way IN
making up the payments on considerably more than
the majority Of the stock and this being adjusted he
undertook visit to the Legislature where, through
the dsintercsted exerons Of staunch democratic
friends he procured most unexceptionable charter
for the bank full of all uf provisions conditions
and CLAUSES necessary enable TO accommodate the
public with mrch paper money as the said pubic
could possibly desire
Fog wanted TO be President of the Bank, but
his habits being deemed Objectionable, the ''Hon.
Middleton Flam," the representative OF the Con-
gressional District to which Quodlbet belonged,
was chosen; Fog was made Director, with
the law business Of the Bank as his perquisites,
and Handy was made Cashier. Ii being partic-
ularly desirable to proPritiate Michael Grant a
Wing of substance and consideration" as MIR.
Butler says, to the project, Handy labored the
point with him at length.
"He argued, with amazing cogency, that General
Jackson had removed the deposites for the express
purpose Of DESTROYING the Bank of the United States
and giving the State Banks fair field; that the Old
Hero was enthusiastic friend to State Rights and
especially TO State Banks which il the desire OF
his heart to see increased and multiplied all the
country that he actually, were, making pets
out Of these Banks, and was determined to feed them
up with the public moneys, and give them suck ere
dit in the land would forever shut out all hope to the
friends of National Bank to succeed with their pur-
pose; and finally, that although Clay and the Wings
were sndeavorng to resist the General in his deermi-
nation to Establish new Banks in the States that
sstance was already considered hopeless II with
visible air of triumph that Mr.. Handy, in confrma-
ton of this opinion read from the Globe Of the 2s of
December previous these words;
" The intelligent people Of the West know how to
maintain their rights and independence and TO repe
oppression. Although foiled in the beginning, every
Western State is about 70 establish State Bank in
sttution. They resolved to avail themselves Of
their own State credit as well Of the National Gre
dit maintain currency independent of foreign con-
troll. Mr.. Clay's presses in Kentucky begin now to
feel how vain all their efforts to resist the determ
nation Of the people of the West Ohio, Indiana, Hi
nos, Missouri, and Kentucky, are resolved TO take
care of themselves and longer depend on the kind
guardianship Of Biddle, Clay, & Co"
Having laid this fact before Mr. Grant, by way Of
clinching the argument, Mr. Handy pulled out of his
POCKET letter which he had JUS received from the
secretary Of the Treasury. 1t contained commune
cation of the deepest import to the future fortunes of
our Borough; which communication, as have boon
favored By Mr.. Handy with a copy, feel happy to
transcrbe here for tho cdincation of my reader Ii is
circular and to cashier printed on giltedged
letter paper having the title Of the Bank the date and
some other items filed up in writing
Treasury Department. April l, 1884.
"'SIR: The Patriotic Copperplate Bank Of Quodli-
bet has been selected by this department the deposi
tory Of the public money collected in Quodlibet and its
vicinity and the Marshal will hand you the form Of
contract proposed to be executed with copy of his
instructions from this department In selecting your
institution a. of the fiscal agents of the Govern
ment, not only rely its solidity and established
character a. afordng sufficient guaranty for the
safety Of the public money entrusted to its keeping,
but con6ds also its disposition to adopt the most lbe-
raj course which circumstances will admit toward other
moncyed institutions generally and particularly those
in your vicinity The deposites Of the public money
will enable you to afford increased facilities TO com
uals and the duties which are payable to the Gov
ernent arise from the business and enterprise of the
merchants engaged in foreign trade it is but reason
able that they should be preferred in the additional ac
commodations which the public deposites will enable
your nsti luton TO give whenever il can be done with
out injustice to the claims of other classes of the COM
munty
al am, &c.
OR. B. TANEY,
&c Secretary Ct the Treasury.
r. IL. D.. an
Patriotic Copperplate Bank Of Quod,ibef.'"
Mr. Grant remained inexorable but the Bank
went on swimmingly:
+" And, truly, the Bank did grea, business! Mr.
Handy, who il acknowledged to be man of taste,
procured of the handsomest plates it is supposed
that Murray, Draper Fairman ever executed, and
with about ak bales Of pnksh silk paper, and very
superior cylinder press, created amount Of capital
which soon put to rest old Mr. Grants grumbng
about the want Of sodity in the bank and fully ust
fed the Secretary declaration of his confidence in
established character afordng sufficient guaranty
for the safety Of the public money entrusted to its keep
It was in the of this year, and pretty soon
after the bank got the deposites that Mr. Handy be-
gan his row OF four story brick warehouses the ba-
sin, which goes by the name of Ncodemus's
Row. He also laid the foundation Of his mansion on
the hill fronting upon Handy Place; and which edi-
fee he subsequently finished much to the adorn-
ment OF our borough, with Grecian portico in front
and Italian verandah looking towards the garden
As his improvements advanced in this and the next
year. he successfully reared temple Of Minerva on
the top Of the ice house. statue of Apollo in the
tire Of the carriage circle, dial on marble pillar
where the garden walls ntcrscct and gildcd dragon
wssthcrcock the cupola Of the stables. The new
banking house was commenced early in the summer
and has been finished Of very beautiful granite, being
in its front, if | am rightly informed by Mr.. Handy
exact miniature copy Of the tomb Of Osymandias
1t is situated Flam street. the first after you leave
the BASIN going northward All the directors, except
Fog followed the footsteps Of their illustrous prede-
cessor, Mr.. Handy, and went to work to build them
selves villas the elevated ground back of the bo
rough, now known by the name Of Coppcrplate Ridge
which villas were duly completed in all manner Of
Greek Roman, and Tuscan fashions"
The bank did sweeping business all this time !