AN ACT to divorce John Pierson from his wife Catharine BE IT ENACTED by the Council and General Assembly of this state, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That John Pierson, of the county of Essex, be, and he is hereby divorced from his wife, Catharine Pierson, and that the marriage contract heretofore existing between them, be, and the same is hereby as fully and absolutely dissolved, as if they had never been joined in matrimony. Passed February 26, 1834. poration. Powers. AN ACT to incorporate the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank of New-Brunswick. Sec. 1. BE IT ENACTED by the Council and General Assembly of this state, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That all such persons as shall become stockholders in the capital stock hereinafter mentioned, their successors and assigns, are, and shall be hereby constituted and made a Style of incor- body corporate and politic, by the name and style of "The Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank of New-Brunswick," and by that name shall be known in law, and shall have power to sue and be sued, to plead and be impleaded, answer and be answered unto, defend and be defended in all courts, whether in law or equity, and by that name may also have, purchase, possess and enjoy, to them and their successors, lands, tenements and heriditaments, goods, chattels, and effects of what nature or kind soever, necessary for the purposes of this corporation; and the same to grant, demise, alien and dispose of at pleasure, for the benefit of the said corporation; and may also have a common seal, and alter and renew the same at pleasure; and also may make such by-laws and establish such rules and regulations as shall seem necessary and expedient for the well government of the said institution, and put the same in execution; Provided, that the same be not repugnant to the constitution and laws of the United States, nor of this state; and may also appoint all such officers, agents and servants as shall be necessary to carry into effect the powers by this act vested in the said corporation, and allow such compensation for their services as shall be right and proper. Proviso. Sec. 2. And be it enacted, That the capital stock of said corporation shall be one hundred thousand dollars, with liberty to increase the same to two hundred thousand dollars, which shall be divided into shares of twenty-five dollars each; and that the sum of fifty thousand dollars shall be subscribed and actually paid in, before the said corporation shall be allowed to commence business. Commissioners Sec. 3. And be it enacted, That John Bray, James S. Nevius, Lewis Carman, Peter N. Pool, Abraham Suydam, to receive subCharles Morgan, Littleton Kirkpatrick, David Mercereau, scriptions. James C. Zabriskie, Andrew Agnew, Miles C. Smith, and C. L. Hardenbergh, be, and they are appointed commissioners, to receive subscriptions for the said stock, in the city of New-Brunswick, first giving two weeks previous notice in the newspapers, printed in said city, of the time and place of opening the books of subscription, which shall remain open from day to day, (Sundays excepted) for ten days, unless the whole amount of the said stock shall be sooner subscribed. Mode of pay Sec. 4. And be it enacted, That the sums subscribed shall be paid in the following manner, to wit: five dollars on ment of stock. each share, at the time of subscribing, to the commissioners aforesaid, and the remainder in such instalments, and at such times as the president and directors shall appoint; Provided, that previous notice of the time when such instalments shall be required to be paid, shall be published at least three weeks in the newspapers of the city of New-Brunswick. Sec. 5. And be it enacted, That any person, co-partner- Stock forfeited ship or body politic, failing to pay any instalment, or part on failure to pay. thereof, pursuant to the provisions of the fourth section, shall instalments. forfeit to the said corporation, every share upon which there shall be a deficiency, and all moneys thereon previously paid. Sec. 6. And be it enacted, That as soon as two thousand shares shall be subscribed, the commissioners aforesaid, or directors. any seven of them, may call a meeting of the subscribers, at Election of first New-Brunswick, by giving at least three weeks previous notice in the newspapers printed in that city; and the subscribers assembled in pursuance of such notice, shall choose, by ballot, from among the subscribers, by a majority of votes of such as are present, or by proxy, eleven directors, who shall be citizens of this state, who shall serve until the second Monday in May, eighteen hundred and thirty-five, on which Time of annual day, and on the same day annually thereafter, (during the election of dicontinuance of their charter) a like election shall be made, a majority of which directors, shall, at all times, be inhabitants of the city of New-Brunswick; and in case of the death, refusal, resignation, disqualification, or removal of any director, the remaining members, at their next meeting thereafter, shall elect, by ballot, another person in his place, for the residue of the term; and the directors, or any seven of them, at T rectors. their first meeting after every general election, shall elect President to be from among themselves, by a majority of the members pre chosen. Mode of conducting elections. Quorum for transactien of business. Mode of transfering stock. President and directors jointly and severally liable for notes issued. sent, by ballot, a president, who shall be an inhabitant of the state of New-Jersey; and in case of the death, refusal, resignation, disqualification, or removal of the president, the directors shall meet as soon as conveniently can be thereafter, and elect in the manner before mentioned, another person, qualified as aforesaid, for president. Sec. 7. And be it enacted, That for the well regulating and conducting of the election of directors, the stockholders, at their first general meeting, shall appoint three from among themselves, who shall be judges of said election, for the first term; and that at every election thereafter, the president and directors, for the time being, shall appoint three stockholders, not being directors, to be judges of the same; and that each stockholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share holden by him; Provided, that he shall have held such share for at least twenty days next preceding an election, and shall be a citizen of this state. Sec. 8. And be it enacted, That seven directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, of whom the president shall always be one, except in case of sickness or necessary absence, and in such case, his place may be supplied pro tempore, by any other director, chosen by a majority of the directors so met for business. Sec. 9: And be it enacted, That the stock of the corporation shall be deemed personal property, and that no transfer of said stock shall be valid, unless it shall be made upon the transfer book of said corporation. Sec. 10. And be it enacted, That the total amount of the debts which the said corporation shall at any time owe, whether by bond or bill or note, or other contract, shall not exceed double the amount of the capital paid in; that the president and directors of the corporation shall, in their individual capacities, and jointly and severally, be and continue liable to every creditor for the payment of all bills obligatory or of credit, note or notes, that they or any of them may issue and circulate, and upon demand of payment being made at the bank, during the usual hours of business, and refusal thereof, an action may be brought against the president and directors of the said company, in their individual capacities and jointly or severally; and it shall be lawful for the plaintiff or plaintiffs to declare thereon generally for money had and received, with a specification of the dates, sums, payees, and numbers of the said bills or notes so demanded, and payment whereof hath been neglected or refused, and upon judgment being rendered, execution shall issue. Sec. 11. And be it enacted, That it shall be lawful for the directors of the said corporation, to make semi-annual divi made. If dividend of pital is made, any part of ca directors liable, dends to the stockholders, of so much of the profits of the semi-annual & banking business, as to said directors may seem advisable; vidends to be but the said directors shall not at any time make any dividend of any part of the capital stock of said corporation, but only the net profits thereof; and in case they shall divide any part of the capital stock as aforesaid, the directors under whose administration it shall happen, shall be liable for the same, in their natural and private capacities, and an action of debt may be brought in such case, against them, or any of them, their heirs, executors, or administrators, in any court of record of this state, by any creditor of said corporation, and may be prosecuted to judgment and execution, any condition, covenant, or agreement to the contrary notwithstanding; and such of the directors as may have been absent when such dividend took place, or may have dissented from the act or resolution directing the same, may exonerate themselves from such liability, by forthwith giving notice of the fact of their absence or dissent, to the governor of the state for the time being, and to the stockholders at a general meeting, which they, the said directors, shall have power to call for that purpose. Qualifications of Sec. 12. And be it enacted, That none but a stockholder, being a citizen of the United States, and resident directors. in and citizen of the state of New-Jersey, shall be eligible as a director; and no director shall be entitled to any emolument, unless the same shall be allowed by the stockholders, at a general meeting; the stockholders shall make such compensation to the president for his extraordinary services and attendance upon the business of said corporation, as shall appear to them reasonable. Bills under seal Sec. 13. And be it enacted, That the bills obligatory and of credit, under the seal of the said corporation, which shall be assignable by made to any person or persons, shall be assignable by endorse- endorsement. ment thereon, under the hand or hands of such person or persons, and his, her, or their assignee or assignees, successively, and shall enable such assignee or assignees, to bring and maintain an action thereupon, in his, her, or their name or names; and bills or notes which may be issued by said corporation, signed by the president, and countersigned by the cashier Bills not under thereof, promising the payment of money to any person or seal assignable persons, his, her, or their order, or to bearer, though not under and negotiable. the seal of the said corporation, shall be binding and obligatory upon the same, in like manner, and with the like effect, as upon any private person or persons, if issed by him or them, in their private or natural capacity or capacities, and shall be assignable and negotiable in like manner, as if they were so issued by any private person or persons, that is to say: those which shall be payable to any person or persons, his, her, or their order, shall be assignable and negotiable by endorsement in like manner, and with the like effect as fo What real estate may be held. Restrictions. reign bills of exchange now are, and those which shall be payable to bearer, shall be negotiable or assignable by deli very. Sec. 14. And be it enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for the said corporation to purchase and hold such, and so much of the said real estate as shall be necessary for their convenient accommodation in the transaction of their business; and also such as shall be bona fide mortgaged to it by way of security, or conveyed to it in satisfaction of debts, previously contracted, in the course of its dealings, or purchased at sales upon judgments which shall be obtained for such debts. Sec. 15. And be it enacted, That the corporation shall not directly or indirectly deal or trade in any thing except bills of exchange, promissory notes, gold and silver bullion, or in the sale of goods which shall be the produce of its lands; nor shall the said corporation take more than at the rate of Rate of interest. six per centum per annum, for, or upon its loans or discounts, and the capital stock of the said company shall be subject to the same tax as other banks in this state are or shall be subject to, and the same shall be levied, collected and paid in the same manner as taxes on other banks in this state, now are or hereafter may be recovered. Stock may be taxed. Election of cashier. Sec. 16. And be it enacted, That the votes of seven of the directors shall be necessary to a choice of the cashier of this corporation, who shall hold his office during the pleasure of the directors, for the time being, and every cashier, before he enters upon the duties of his office, shall be required to give bond, with two or more sureties, to the satisfaction of the directors, in a sum not less than forty thousand dollars, with condition for his good behaviour; and every director and Cashier to give cashier, before entering upon the duties of their respective offices, shall take the following oath or affirmation, as the case may be: I, do swear (or affirm) that I will agreeably to the provisions of the law and the trust reposed in me, to the best of my skill and understanding. bond. Oath of direc tors and cashier. faithfully execute the duties of Annnal state bited. . Sec. 17. And be it enacted, That the president and directors shall not be authorized to issue any bank notes for any ment to be exhi- sum under one dollar; and that at the annual meeting for the choice of directors, a balance of the books shall be exhibited, and a statement of the affairs and business of the corporation for the preceding year, shall be made out and shown for the general satisfaction of the stockholders; and that the books of said corporation shall, at all times, during banking hours, be open for the inspection of the stockholders. Interest allowed Sec. 18. And be it enacted, That on all special deposits, to special depo- there shall be allowed, to such depositors, three per cent. ors, |