Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-02-03

was held last night, at their rooms over the CITY
Savings Bank, the president, Peter Bacon, ESQ
in the chair. The secretary, John F. Ellis, being
absent, Lewis Newton, Esq was appointed
secretary pro. TEN.
The chair stated the principal object for which
the meeting had been called, was to tax. into
consideration bill which had been introduced
into the U g. Senate by Senator Siidell, to pro-
hibit the issue Of bank notes by corporations or
individuals, within the District Of Columbia;
and further, to prevent the circulation of bank
notes issued by any incorporated company or
association Of individuals, located beyond the
limits OF the District Of Columbia Of a less de-
nomination than fifty dollars The chair further
stated, that copy of the bill in question was
before the meeting for them to hear read should
they think proper.
On motion. the bill was read 10 the association
and on Its conclusion
Mr.. Dodson add essed the Chair, stating that
the question was an important one, demanding
the prompt action Of all business men as to Its
passage. He regretted that a larger attendance
OF the members Of the Association was not pres
ent; but as for him, he was ready and willing to
act In unison with the rest, in giving the subject
that attention which II deserved at the bands Of
the business community. He had been hands d
series Of resolutions, which he begged might be
read.
On motion, the resolutions were read, a. fol-
lows:
MERcHANrs' EXCHANGE,
CITY Of Washington, ID. C., Feb 2, 1853 (
w hereas the bill recently introduced into the
United States Senate proposes to deprive the
business community Of the District of Columbia,
In the most summary manner, of all the banking
faculties they now enjoy, and by its other strin
gent provisions and application Of new doctrine
seriously to affect the vital interests Of all classes
OF our citizens:
RsSslv.d, That we have full and entire conf
dence in the solvency OF all the banks in this
District, and that we regard the gentlemen who
manage them among the first in point of probity,
honor and responsibility in midst
Heso!red, That the will and wishes of this
community has not been consulted on this sub
1ect and while We have no voice In Congress,
we submit that we cannot endorse the doctrine
as American citizens residing under the shadow
OF the Capitol, that laws seriously affecting our
thereto.
Resolrsd, That the trade and commerce of this
District would lin our opinion) be more than
doubled. provided we had the banking facilities
our neighbors and friends in adjacent Virginia
and Maryland have long since enjoyed.
k,sOired That Senators Hunter and Mason Of
Virginia: and Pearce and Kennedy of Maryland,
be respectfully solicited to use their influence in
obtaining for us such bank charters as our neigh
bors in Baltimore and Alexandria now have
Resotrsd That the above resolutions be prop
eriy attested by the President and Secretary, and
that the editors of the National Intelligencer.
Union, Star. and States be respectfully requested
TO publish them
Mr.. Mitchell props sed to amend the first reso-
luton; he thong ht ii endo- sed our banking in
situations in lang uage entirely too strong; much
more so than they were entitled to under all the
circumstances that had attended their late specie
suspension payment acts Their late conduct
did not entitle them to that extent Of endorse
nlent at the hands Of the business community
No one doubted that the gentlemen who man
aged our District banks were men Of high honor
and unimPeacbable integrity private individ-
uals, but the whole community had been and
were now sufferers from their recent acts of sus-
pension. In relation to the bill introduced into
the Senate by Senator SlideIl. he thought it the
most injurious and the most unjust measure that
was ever attempted to be perpetrated on a bust
z moved hat he Init
be referred TO a special committee. with instruc-
lions to report at the earliest possible day upon
them.
Mr.. Wall seconded Mr. Mitchell in his motion
stating that in his mind they did not 90 deep
enough to embrace the whole extent of the evil
which about to be enacted by Congress
against their united business interests. The bill
In Question was most monstrous and atrocious,
not permitting the business the common
business facility Of making bills Of exchange
Mr.. Perry endorsed the resolutions. He did
not see in what manner they misrepTeSemted the
faith OF the community in our banks. They sim
ply expressed our faith as business men in their
solvency- They did not express any endorse
meRt OF the petty paper hawking proppnsties
and acts OF the bankers. They Ohe resOlutions)
simply stated that We believed in their reliability
and rexpectability as individuals. No one would
say that the managers of our city banks were not
men of honesty and respectability As to the
bill OF Senator slideil II was calculated to ruin
the enterprise Of any community. Its effect upon
the industry and characteristic enterprise of our
business men would prove most disastrous. He
wished 10 have gentlemen bring their sentiments
out in the meeting let us know what they were
He was opposed to that sort Of cavil which was
forever tearing down, and never proposing or
suggesting way to build up. IL he had got to
bow down 10 the will Of any tatterdsmalion Sen
stor or member of Congress, he would wish to
wear a collar and have il labeled sMy dog"
Mr.. Mitchell asked, II gentlemen had so much
faith In the sOlvency of our banks how IL occur
red that their stoc K was always below par, As to
the honor and standing of Washington bankers
there could be no doubt; but when il came to
taking care Of money intrusted to them by our
merchants, ii was another thing He renewed
his motion for referring the resolutions to
iect committee.
The Chair thought that the resolutions were
rather strongly expressive OF their confidence in
the banks, and suggested the following az sub
stituting more mildly drawn expression of their
sentiments as business men, Of the standing OF
our city banks in the community:
ResOIr>d, That we fully believe that the banks
OF this District are perfectly solvent and we re-
yard the gentlemen who manage them among
the mist In point OF probty, honor and respecta-
biiity In our midst, we at the same time recog-
nize the necessity Of some law to prevent for the
future, the suspension Of specie payments.
ReSotrsd, That We fully believe that this CON-
munity would be- perfectly satisfied with a law
prohibiting the issue Of notes of denomination
less than twenty dollars.
These resolutions, together with those pre-
yiously offered, Were discussed by the meetino
at large, and various positions were taken as TO
their bearing on the Question before the Associa-
ton, and finally they Were referred to a special
SoInhitlcc uy d Notc OF ayes ., noes D.
Toe Chair appointed Messrs. +. Mitchell
Peter Bacon and Thomas Parker to serve on the
Committee, with instructions to report next Fri
day night
Mr.. Mitchell here introduced the subject of the
new District Code, upon the adoption Of which
the community was soon to be called to vote He
thought the matter should be discussed publicly
and moved that the Association call a meeting
TO he held in some proper locality, In which the
Codihers might be invited to be present, and
have the new Code discussed in all its bearings
that the public might have opportunity to be
informed as to what they were to vote upon IL
being suggested that such a meeting mi ht be
called by resolution, the Chair offered the fol-
lowing:
RsSOirsd, Thit the Mayor Of the city be re-.
Quested to call mreting of the citizens OF ash
sngton, in such place as he may design to
discuss the proposed new Code Of Laws and to
invite the Codifers to be present at the meeting.
Passed unanimously aud then the meeting add
journed.
The INDIASs.-At eleven O'Clock this morning
the various delegations Of Indians paid visit to
the Mount Vernon cane fact ory, on the invitation
OF the proprietor. Mr.. Crutchett.