lative to this corporation, at any time apply to the president and directors to call a general meeting of the stockholders, and if by them refused, the said number of stockholders, proprietors of not less than that number of shares shall have power to call a general meeting of the stockholders, giving at least thirty days notice in one newspaper printed within the town of Alexandria, and one printed within the city of Washington, specifying in such notice the object or objects of such call. Secretary of the treasury ed with a statement of to be furnish the bank affairs. Sec. 28. And be it further enacted, That the secretary of the treasury of the United States shall be, (at least once in every year) furnished, from time to time, as he may require it, with statements of the amount of the capital stock of the said corporation, and of the debts due to the same, of the monies deposited therein, of the notes in circulation, and of the cash in hand, and shall have a right to inspect such general accounts in the books of the bank, as shall relate to the said statements: Provided, That this shall not be construed to Proviso. imply a right of inspecting the account of any private individual or individuals with the bank. Sec. 29. And be it further enacted, That this corporation shall continue until the first day of January, in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty-one: But nevertheless, the proprietors of two thirds of the capital stock of the company may, by their concurrent votes at a general meeting, to be called for that purpose, dissolve the same at an earlier period: Provided, That notice of such meeting and its object shall be published in two or more newspapers, printed within the district of Columbia, for at least three months successively, previous to the time appointed for such meeting. 1 On the disso lution of the corporation, the capital, &c. &c. to be divided. Commence Sec. 30. And be it further enacted, That on the dissolution of this corporation, whenever the same shall be determined on as aforesaid, effectual measures shall be immediately taken by the president and directors, then in office, for closing all the concerns of the corporation and for dividing the capital and profits which may remain, among the stockholders in proportion to their respective in terests. Sec. 31. And be it further enacted, That this act shall not take effect until the fourth ment of this day of March, which will be in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eleven, and shall to all intents and purposes be deemed and held a public act. act. J. B. VARNUM, Speaker of the House of Representatives. Vice-President of the United States, and President of the Senate. February 16, 1811. APPROVED, JAMES MADISON. CHAPTER LXXXV. AN ACT to incorporate the Bank of Potomac. E it enacted by the Senate and House of America, in Congress assembled, That from and after the fourth day of March, which will be in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eleven, all those who have or Bank incor hereafter may become stockholders in the porated. Bank of Potomac, their successors and assigns, shall be and they are hereby created and made a body politic, by the name and style of "The President, Directors and Company of the Bank of Potomac," and so shall continue until the fourth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-one, and no longer; and by that name shall have succession; and shall be and are hereby made able and capable in law to have, purchase and receive, possess, enjoy and retain to them and their successors, lands, rents, tenements, hereditaments, goods, chattels and effects, of what kind, nature or quality soever, and the same to sell, grant, demise, alien or dispose of; and by the name aforesaid may sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, answer and be answered, defend and be defended, in any court of law or equity. And by the name aforesaid may do and execute every other matter and thing, that they are authorised to do by virtue of this act: Provided always, That the lands, tenements Proviso. and hereditaments, which it shall be lawful for the said president and directors to hold, shall be only such as shall be requisite for their immediate accommodation, in relation to the convenient transacting their business, and such as shall have been bona fide mortgaged to them by way of security, or conveyed to them in satisfaction of debts previously contracted in the course of their dealings: Provided also, Proviso. That the said president and directors shall not purchase any goods, chattels or effects, unless such as are sold by virtue of an execution upon a judgment obtained by them, except such articles as may be necessary for Capital. them in transacting the business of the bank; but it shall be lawful for them to receive and hold such securities, goods, chattels and effects, by way of deposit for advances made by them to any person or persons, and on failure of payment, the same to sell and dispose of at public sale. Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the capital of the said bank shall consist, as it now does, of the sum of five hundred thousand dollars, divided into shares of one hundred dollars each. Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That every stockholder, being a citizen of the Votes &c. &c. United States, shall be entitled to vote at all Elections. elections to be holden by the stockholders in pursuance of this act, and shall have as many votes in proportion to the stock he may hold, as follows: For one share and not exceeding two shares, one vote each; for every two shares above two and not exceeding ten, one vote; for every four shares above ten and not exceeding thirty, one vote; for every six shares above thirty and not exceeding sixty, one vote; for every eight shares above sixty, and not exceeding one hundred, one vote; and for every ten shares above that number, one vote. But no person or persons, bodies corporate or otherwise, shall be entitled to more than fifty votes. No share or shares shall confer a right of suffrage, which shall not have been holden two calendar months previous to the day of election. And in the choice of directors, every stockholder shall vote in person, (except those who shall reside out of the town of Alexandria) who may vote either in person or by a written ballot by him or her subscribed, with his or her name, and duly acknowledged before a judge of a court, a justice of the peace, or a notary public; a certificate whereof shall be made on said ballot by the said judge, justice of the peace or notary public, before whom such acknowledgment shall be made; and said ballot shall be by him sealed up, and addressed to the cashier of the bank, and being transmitted to said cashier before the time of the election of directors, said ballot shall be received and counted in the choice of directors. And every stockholder may sell and transfer his stock in the said bank, or any part thereof, at his pleasure, not being less than one complete share or shares, the transfer being made in the bank books, in the presence and with the approbation of the proprietor or his lawful attorney. &c. Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That an Elections, election shall be held in the town of Alexandria regulations on the first Monday of November in each thereto, &c. year, of which notice shall be given in one or more newspapers, printed in the town of Alexandria, four weeks at least, before said day of election. And the stockholders shall choose, by ballot, from among the stockholders, by a majority of votes, twelve directors, for the term of one year thereafter; and on resignation, disqualification or removal of any director, out of the county of Alexandria, in the district of Columbia, or out of the county of Fairfax, in the state of Virginia, the other directors, at their next meeting thereafter, shall elect by ballot another person, qualified as aforesaid, in his place, for the residue of the year. The directors shall, at the first meeting after every general election, elect by a majority of their whole number, by ballot from among their own number, a president, who shall be thereupon entitled to all the powers and privileges of one; and if he was Rr |