Nothing in this act to exonerate the members of the associations incorporated, &c. from liability to creditors under existing contracts.shall be construed to exonerate or discharge any member of any of the aforesaid associations, or the funds thereof, from any liability to creditors under any existing contract, or on account of any note, bill, or obligation issued or in existence when this act shall take effect, but such liability shall remain in relation to all such notes, bills, obligations, or contracts, as if this act had not been passed.
Sec. 29. And be it further enacted, That from and after the fourth day of April next, it shall not be lawful for any unchartered banking company, or any association,Unchartered banking companies prohibited after the 4th of April, 1817. partnership, or company of individuals, within the District of Columbia, to discount any notes, or other securities, for the payment of money, or to issue notes or bills, whether payable to the order or bearer, or any other securities, promises or orders, for the payment of money or stock; and every member, officer, or agent, of any such company, or associate or partner of any such association or partnership, shall be held to be guilty of a misdemeanor, and for every such offence, upon conviction thereof, may be fined in a sum not less than one hundred dollars, nor more than five hundred dollars.
Penalty for signing, &c., notes of unchartered banking companies.Sec. 30. And be it further enacted, That whoever, as president, cashier, or agent, of any such company, or as associate or partner of any such association or partnership, shall, after the said fourth day of April next, sign, countersign, or endorse, any such note, bill, or security, contrary to the provisions of this act, shall, in addition to the aforesaid penalties, be held to be guilty of a high misdemeanor, and may be imprisoned for a period not less than three, nor more than twelve, months, at the discretion of a jury.
Drafts, bills, &c., discounted contrary to this act declared utterly void.Sec. 31. And be it further enacted, That all drafts, bills, or other securities, for the payment of money, discounted contrary to the provisions of this act, whether the same be payable to any such company, association or partnership, or to any person, as agent or trustee for such company, association or partnership, or for the benefit thereof, and all contracts, bonds, deeds, penal or single bills, or other instrument, given to reimburse or indemnify any person for any payment or responsibility incurred by such person for any debt contracted by any dealing, contrary to the true intent and meaning of this act, shall be, and the same are hereby declared to be utterly voice to all intents and purposes.
Penalty for issuing prohibited bills or notes after the 4th day of April, 1817.Sec. 32. And be it further enacted, That if any person, as president, cashier, teller, or other officer, or agent of any such banking company, or as associate or partner in any such association, or partnership, shall, from and after the said fourth day of April next, issue or pass into circulation any such note, bill, draft, or other security, hereby prohibited to be issued, together with every person assenting thereto, shall be deemed and taken to have incurred the penalties of this act, notwithstanding the note, bill, or other security, so issued, may have been signed, countersigned, and endorsed, before the commencement of this act.
Approved, March 3, 1817.
Statute II.
[Obsolete.]
Chap. XCIV.—An Act making further provision for repairing the public buildings, and improving the public square.
100,000 dolls. appropriated for repairing the public buildings.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That for the purpose of repairing the public buildings, a sum not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars be, and the same is hereby, appropriated, to be applied, by the commissioner, under the direction of the President of the United States.
38,658 dolls. appropriated for completing the enclosure, &c. of the public square.Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That for the purpose of completing the enclosure and improvement of the public square, near the capitol, a sum not exceeding thirty-eight thousand six hundred and fifty-eight dol-