Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-03-26
POLITICAL.
Correspondence of the Baltimore SUM-
The Richmond Bank Deposits in the
United States Treasury.

WASHINGTON, March l5.-Mr. Van
Wyck's report relative to the Richmond bank
nfiep"sits IN the Treasury says that on March
Il, 1860, the Legislature of Virginia passed
pm act authorizing loan to the Common
Seaith Of S3U0,OU0 in gold and silver coin
the banks' to be applied to the use of the
lrmy of Northern Virginia. Seven banks
accordingly furnished 100000, receiving
etate bonds as security therefor; and of the
amount of this loan, the 100000 now in the
Treasury is the subject OF this report. The
money had been deposited By the State. to
its credit, in three banks, which were public
repositories, as follows: Bank of Virginia
IVSOoO, Farmers Bank SIP 600 Ex-
hangc Bank $4,000.
On March 18th, 1865, the Secretary of the
Confederate Treasury, G. A Trenholm. caused
to be delivered to the Governor of Virginia
order stating that tlslss50O, 900 had been
advanced for the use of The Commissary De-
partmeut, for which the State agreed to re-
celve IN payment cotton, at the rate of Is
cents per pOnnd, and authorizing the Gov
erner to issue an order for 100000 pounds
of cotton.
Capt. StrOther, of the Confederate Army.
had authority to receive the $500, 600 lust
before the evacuation of Richmond. He did
receive ST 1000, the banks retaining 800
600. He discussed S25, 600 at Richmond
leaving S246 900, of which $4,000 was in
checks drawn by the Bank of Virginia and
the Exchange Bank, on their branches in
Lynchburg.
Captain Strother left Richmond April ..
1860, with this sum under his control. and
was accompanied by officers of the banks.
who had III charge between 500. 900 and
S3OO,0OO in coin, belonging to tie banks
At Danvilie, on April Sth, Captain Strother
agreed with the officers of the banks that in
the event OF his being cut off from Lees ar
my. he would restore the remainder of the
funds to them. They then proceeded to
Washington, Georgia. On April 2Ist. 1865
Captain Strother had remaining 1928 .929
which he paid to the bauk officers, and took
a receipt for the same. There was no al.~
thorty authorizing this payment by Captain
HtFother. The bank officers destroyed the
checks and held the remainder of the funds.
In May, 1865, the Baak of Richmond OBJ
tanned permit from General Patrick to bring
their effects from Georgia, and started with
ABOUT S4oV,GUG in coin. OF this Sl7OO 900
was OF the fund received from Strother-
When eighteen miles from WASHINGTON. Geor-
gIa. they were robbed of $3.50. 600 in coin
by Confederate soldiers disguised in Federal
uniforms. OF this sos 600 belonged to the
Bank OF Virginia. The subsequent dav the
robbers restored $4,000. OF this one bar
OF S9,U0O was identified as the propertv of
the banks. After paying expenses the fund
recovered amounted to 100000, which was
subsequently delivered to General Steadman
a; anu 'h's Is the amount now on deposit in the
Treasury.
The above facts, the committee saw vcrc
agreed upon by counsel in arguing the mat
Ter before the President and Secretary of
tPe treasury The Committee in their re-
port then proceed to say that bad faith WAS
manifested by the officers OF the banks who
at one time made oath that the money was
lost IN dealings with the Confederate govern
ment Confederate officers also made similar
statements, and tho solicitor of the United
STATES was led to believe that no ownership
was eyer vested IN the Contederacy, and the
PRESIDENT of the United States issued an or
der for the restoration of the coin on certain
conditions, which We're not complied with
satisfactory to the United States Treasurer
CERTAIN United States officers being still con-
v'nccd that the coin had belonged to the Con-
lederatc government, further investigation
showed that the transaction had been entered
INTO not with the Confederate Treasury. but
with the Confederate War Department.
l ms conceaImeut and duplicity on the part
OF t"e banks, say the committee, "shows the
character OF their Claims
There can be no dispute that the banks
A'o"SN ~ lhS state OF Virginia $500 900 in
com expressly TO be advanced to the Confed-
crate government
The G moderate armies had surrendered
the President Of the Cunfederacv was in
flight, and it is idle to pretend that Captain
Strother had any right to act as administrator
Of the dead Confederacy, and defraud this
government Of its legal spols of war, for bv
the act of the surrender of Lee, all the prop-
erty of the Confederacy was vested in the
United States. Strother had no more right
to give the bank agents the money than he had
to give them muskets. 1t was fraud upon
the government, and the bank agents wero
21arIicrps crinainis, and the banks should not
derive any profit therefrom The bank
agents had no right to remove the coin from
Georgia, and they are liable. therefore, for
the whole amount Had the banks succeed
ed IN putting in their vaults at Richmond
the S223 229. thev yznuli ha-o hao.. alaa-l-- !.