Year: 1861

1t is fact pretty generally known,
that the banking laws of some Of the
Western States. not being so stringent
as our own in regard to the amount OF
specie in their vaults compared with their
circulation, run of Il ousand dollars
or two would suffice to cause a suspcu-
sion of specie payments. The high rate
of exchange in some States, and the pre-
MUM charged for gold by the Chicago
brokers, induces these worthless to gather
together q thousand dollars or so Of the
notes of some country bank, step in to
it, suddenly demand the specie for the
notes, and step back with the gold, which
they sell at premium, and then play
the same game in some other quarter of
the State.


The country banks. naturally enough.
are averse to having their notes sent
back upon them in this style, and keep
n sharp look for these carpet-b bag men
as they arc called, the principal stock
holders aud others connected with the
bank holding sbemselves in readiness in
aggravated instances, to assist in treat
ing the carpet-bag man to free ride On
a rail to the outskirts Of the town.


A young Boston merchant who recent
ly found himself short of funds in one of
these towns in Illinois, stepped into a
merchant with whom he had business
transactions, to get the money on draft
made on his frm in the city. The Hi
nois merchant accomm odatcd him, and
in doing SO gave him check on the vii
lage bank. The Bostonian stepped
round to the bank, and on entering. as
ked the solitary individual whom he
found at ease in an armchair if the Ca
shier was in, as he wanted to draw some
money. The individual pricked up his
ears, answered in the negative, and told
his visitor to call in an hour, when the
cashier would return from dinner.


The Boston man therefore withdrew,
and amused himself with inspecting the
natural beauties of the town; meantime
the arm chair man, who was in reality
the cashier, slipped out and notified his
minute men that a 'carpet-bag man
was in town to make pull at the specie
vault, so that, on the return of the un-
suspecting and innocent cause of the a
larm, he was surprised to find the bank
nearly filled with various specimens of
half woodsman, half-hat-boatsman style
of Illinois gentry, each one of whom
seemed, by his muscular developments.
able to have pitched mau across
three mile run. He made his way
with some difficulty through the motley
crowd to the counter, where he encoun-
tered a tall fellow, with his pants tuck
ed into his boots and his fists doubled
ready for action who demanded his bus
mess.


My business is with the cashier
stand aside till finish that, and then
III attend to you, said Boston deter
minedly.


The tall Sucker, amazed at his i'm
pudence, instinctively stepped aside. and
the cashier asked What will you have,
sir ?


i wish to draw some money here. if
can was the reply, and there was a
movement and slight sensation in the
crowd.


We'll, do'no about thaf-how much ?


Sixty dollars! for this check, said
Boston, taking the slip of paper from his
pocket.


oh, ali how will you have it ? said
the man of money, somewhat Modified.


Il want small notes. was the quiet re-
ply, amid an audible snicker of the COM
pany, who were beginning to change
their opinion of their visitor.


The cashier commenced counting out
the money with remarkable alacrity to
his astonished Customer, who was all the
time wondering what the excitement was
about. just at this moment, the tall
fellow who had distracted the way lean
ed over and looked at the check which
laid upon the counter. and, turning to
his friends. exclaimed Boys. the ca
sheir is sold-i.'s the presidents check;
aud the whole assemblage burst into 4