Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-02-28
Written for the Green Mountain Freeman.
Tho Bank of Montnelier.

Tho Bank of Montpelier.
Mr.. EDITOR Il am glad you have come out
In your paper on this Bank Stock business
When the Freeman shall fail to denounce all
combinations affecting the rights of the people,
1t will be no more worthy its high character as
the fearless advocate of equal rights. Your pa
per is we'll read in my neighborhood just now.
When some of the neiehbors come and borrow
mine, just hint to them that they had better
subscribe themselves. guess they will take
the hint.
don't know much about Bank matters, but
can tell when there is fair play. When inter-
ested men, or Bank men, want to get a Bank
charter they appeal to the dear people, and tell
them how much Bank will benefit them--that
it will make money more plenty-that they will
get higher prices for all they have to sell-that
On Investment of their surplus money in the
stock will be safe and profitable, and they prom
Use every body oil the stock they want. By such
artful means and appliances the people are in
duced to take hold of the matter, and the Bank
men get their Bank charter.
How was it when the Montpelier Bank was
chartered, The people were told by the Bank
mon who wanted the charter, and by the Com
nissioners named in it, that the stock should be
honestly and fairly divided. They said they
did not mean to have any such clamor about this
as there had been about some other dstribu
tions. The Commissioners said this. The OFF.
GERS there at the Montpelier Bank said the same.
They all said, over and over again, as hun
dreds can witness, that they should make an
honest, faithful and just distribution Of the stock
among the people.
Now can see, without even putting on my
glasses, that there has not been the least parti
Gle of honesty, fairness or justice in this whole
matter. There is but one opinion about it
The people have been most basely cheated and
defraudcd, and they know very well who has
done it.
Although got q lille of this stock-a very
few shares-I do not entertain any better opin
ion of the men who gave it to me than my
neighbors do who did not get any. Some two
or three men there at the Bank not Commiss
ioners-knew very well what kind of money
generally used, and hoping to make me usefu
they used their influence for me, and I got som'
stock. l guess the Commissioners didn't have
much Of finger in that pie. How did they
know should be good customer and help thu
Bank make money!
When first found had some of the stocl
allowed me l felt rather pleased about it, Bu
when come to find out just how things were
that my neighbors and friends, in fact almos
every body, had been cut off and slaughtered
outright begun to feel little ashamed o
myself and of the company was in. Wher
asked about it, wanted to deny that had an.
stock and would generally say didn't know
exactly how it vast was in the wind yet
and | could not tell how it would come out.
was limited to me that had better make bu
little talk about the matter-that the excite
ment would die away in few days, and al
would come out right.
l have thought it over, and considered som
facts within my own knowledge. and have COM
to the conclusion that the stock given me ha
very much the appearance of q br,be. can
think otherwise, and must say don't want an.
part nor lot in the concern. 1t is all fraud
The Commissioners and the Bank men may un
derstand that am now as open-mouthed in dc
nouncing the whole thing, as are my neighboi
and the whole community.
How some of the Commissioners, who have
reputation to sustain, could be induced to stan
by, after taking what stock they wanted then
selves, and let those lean, hungry-looking chat
about the Montpelier Bank slaughter their viz
Tins in cold blood, during the whole of the Sal
bath day-the day after the books were close
Until they were glutted and satiated, f'
one can't exactly understand. l did not suppo'
there was Bank stock enough in the country
induce them to do it. That they did SO is NJ
to be denied They all signed the blank repor
ofaward, without protest There was no fncl
ing on the part of any one. 1t is said one
the Honorable Commissioners even went go ia
while looking upon the writhing victims, rubin
his hands and snuGng the blood, as to erclan
in transport of joy, "d-n them, let The
,uince!"
l do not happen to be one of the victims, y
must say that should vastly prefer to be Oh
of them. and able to wash my hands of til
damnable fraud, than to be one of the Commi
sioners, or one of the conspiritors. D.
them, let them ,cince :" STOCKHOLDERS.
Cabot, Feb. %, 1856.