THE  OLD  MERCHAA'-IS
 

CHAPTER  V.

In a former chapter, George Douglas was alluded to
as having done a very large East India commission busi¬
ness ; but the firm of George Douglas & Co., did a heavy
business independent of India. This house was one of
the very few that, in the contest between General Jack¬
son and the United States Bank, sided with the Presi¬
dent against the Bank. Almost all the merchants op¬
posed Jackson. Not so George Douglas, who in 1832
held bank credits to the extent of $300,000. He was
advised to sink politics, or not let his political opinions
be ventilated until he no longer needed the credits; but
Mr. Douglas was not that kind of a man. He avowed
his opinions openly and above board. It is needless to
add, that the Bank of the United States very speedily
closed its accounts with the independent New York
Jackson merchant. The stoppage of his credits injured
him seriously, but he stood up under it, and although
staggered did not fall.

Mr. Douglas was equally independent in other mat-
tars. He was the first merchant who ever refused to
receive the consignment of a cargo of brandy or wine,
because he was a temperance man and meant to be consis¬
tent. But this did Mr. Donglas : — He actually sacrific¬
ed $20,000 or $30,000 worth of commission because he