Missouri Secedes from Empire
10-31-1861
An act declaring the political ties heretofore existing between the State of
Missouri and the United States of America dissolved.
Whereas the Government of the United States, in the possession and under
the control of a sectional party, has wantonly violated the compact originally
made between said Government and the State of Missouri, by invading with
hostile armies the soil of the State, attacking and making prisoners the militia
while legally assembled under the State laws, forcibly occupying the State
capitol, and attempting through the instrumentality of domestic traitors to
usurp the State government, seizing and destroying private property, and
murdering with fiendish malignity peaceable citizens, men, women, and
children, together with other acts of atrocity, indicating a deep-settled hostility
toward the people of Missouri and their institutions; and
Whereas the present Administration of the Government of the United States
has utterly ignored the Constitution, subverted the Government as
constructed and intended by its makers, and established a despotic and
arbitrary power instead thereof: Now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the general assembly of the State of Missouri, That all
political ties of every character new existing between the Government of the
United States of America and the people and government of the State of
Missouri are hereby dissolved, and the State of Missouri, resuming the
sovereignty granted by compact to the said United States upon admission of
said State into the Federal Union, does again take its place as a free and
independent republic amongst the nations of the earth.
This act to take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
Approved, October 31, 1861.
Source: Official Records, Ser. IV, vol. 1, pp. 752-53.
[This act was passed by a rump legislature called into session in Neosho, by
Gov. C.F. Jackson (who had been removed from office by the State
Convention)]
