The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1863-03-31
A congo" BANK

+ series oi sketches ~ tie boston f1Nf-
lsfia, tells the following story u "ool-
ored bank formed by number Of
"gemmen," in imitation Of the old
United States Bank at the time that
Institution was in operation.
These bank transactions remind me
Of little story that friend (nol Lin
coln) used TO tell Of a "genman of
color
/ lie was runaway slave Of more
than usual Intelligence and cunning,
and might possibly have picked up
HI. banking ideas from zone ol'dese
berry Baltimore MASSES his,elf"
Perhaps while brushing Buclanan's
coat or waiting upon round table Of
bank corsairs, that new wrinkle went
through his wool
At all events, in New Bedford he
found a community Of "contrabands"
well to do in the world, aud some ot
its members occasionally very greasy
with money after the whalrrs arrived,
lie started the project Of Congo
/ Bank. White men haze bank, why
not de nigga Z" Colorcd individuals
/ institution entirely.
Magnificent proiect--a big thing
into which the darkies floued like flies
to q lump Of liver, aid deposited their
"idle currency" with the self-clcctcd
president. who made whites OF eyes
saucericr lhan ever by The marvellous
dexterity with which, like Russers
grave digger, "he gathered them in"
" De Bank aud dc President were
glorious sources OF endless turkey
gobbling aud pride among The deposit
Tors ~ great success, in fact until one
day a certain mig made a draw upon
the institution for Sl,l00, TO pay for i
schooner he had just bought, when it
"cochiluled' and closed it, doors.
4 Toured niggrl Fasp't circun-
,lnncc 10 Tire gAiigned condition Of
him who arouscd de culrrcd popula-
ion" with the astounding intelligence
"dat Dc bank had done gone bust
A mass meeting was convened at
once, and tie crowd demanded instant
explanation as TO the whereabouts Of
the assets, receiving the usual lucid and
highly-satisiactory statement which
presidents generally give on such oc-
casions, viz: that the rrport will be
ready in few days
But Chat did not satisfy the Ethio-
plans, who held out their hands for
truth, aud cheating was intimated--
swindling in fact. The honor Of Mr..
Johnsins was touched by 50 malignant
an accusatian, and he Indignantly re-
piled:
Cheating WHO say DAT I: Who
'cuse me OBJ cheating dcmI No, sar
All fair and hove board in dis bank
Look at DAT =
Hauling out sixpenny pass book,
he held il up TO the rolling sea ofeyes
before him.
Yon sec dat Well, cb,ry man
dat eber put in dollar into de bank,
got his name put down in dis book.
Ebery ting am square,
Look ! II am all down in De
book y
Throwing that document into the
swaying field Of ebony and wool. il
was soon torn into shreds by the ignor-
ant victims in their anxiety TO see il
each one's 5 name was safely entered
and in the midst Of the row the presi-
d,.nt stalked out and over 10 the "le-
gal adviser Of The bank, )" who publish
ed for him notice, 10 Wit; Owing
TO the wanton destruction Of the bank,
BY an unprincipled crowd, composed
doubtless of the enemies Of the insti-
tuition, il was impossible to furnish dc.
positors wilh a detailed statement Of
ils affairs, until after the lapse Of a
few weeks. And in the meantime all
parties are cautioned agaiust sacrilic-
ing their claims for less than the full
amount Of The same and interest"
As for Johnsing, be always insisted
that " It am all down in de book !"
and fpon any attempt % make him