Senator Henry Clay Does Business With the Bank of the United States, and Discusses Litigation Involving It: He also informs the Bank’s cashier that he has written a check to whittle down a large debt to John Jacob Astor, which is to be taken from money being deposited for his pay as senator

Clay would unsuccessfully strive against Andrew Jackson in Clay's effort to recharter the Bank

Henry Clay was a major supporter of the Second Bank of United States and had a strong professional relationship with bank officials Langdon Cheves and Nicholas Biddle before Clay resigned from the bank on March 8, 1825. He remained a friend of the Bank and was a leading force in the attempt to recharter it in 1832.

Autograph letter signed, Lexington, KY, June 23, 1823, to Thomas Wilson, cashier of the Bank of the United States at Philadelphia, mentioning Biddle and some litigation in which the Bank was involved, and informing Wilson that he had written a check for John Jacob Astor, which funds were to be taken from his salary as senator. “I will be glad if you will speak to Mr. Biddle to have the affair of the solicitor at Cincinnati settled so that the requisite preparations be made for the trial of the suits of the Bank, of the approaching term in September of the Federal Court. I am satisfied that we shall get on very badly, unless it is arranged. From what I have heard, I do not believe that the present relations between Mr. Jones and Mr. Crittenden are such as to offer any obstacle to their harmonious cooperation.

“I have this day checked on you in favor of John Jacob Astor of New York for fourteen hundred dollars on account of my compensation due the first of next month. For the residue of it, I will check without further advice.” The address panel is still present. Jones was the first president of the Bank of the United States and Crittenden was an influential U.S. senator.

An interesting letter showing Clay’s interest in and communication with the Bank, which he would vainly strive to save during Andrew Jackson’s administration.