Civil War Comes to Missouri

Most Missourians were of Southern origin but still voted for moderation in the 1860 presidential election. Claiborne F. Jackson, who they elected governor, supported Stephen Douglas -- the relatively moderate, Democratic candidate -- but in his inaugural address Jackson said that Missouri should stand with the South if the Union was dissolved. After Fort Sumpter was fired upon, Jackson said that Missouri would not join in the North's "unholy cause" and, instead, called for fifty thousand men to resist a Federal invasion of the state. Soon Federal forces clashed with state militia and the governor evacuated the capital. What follows is an article taken from the June 18, 1861 edition of the New York Times soon after Jackson had fled Jefferson City.

Highly Important From Kansas ---*--- A State Government Disolved Political and Financial Results The State of Missouri is at present in a condition of chaos unprecedented in the history of this country. The Chief Executive of that State has committed treason against the Federal Government, and has fled from the Capital, closely pursued by Federal forces who will soon have him in custody and safely transferred to a prison beyond the bounds of the State he has dishonored and betrayed. The office of Governor of Missouri is clearly vacant, and all the functions of a State administration are suspended. The Lieutenant-Governor, upon whom the duties of Chief Executive would devolve under the Constitution... is also absent from Missouri, having departed some time since... to the State of Arkansas. Finding the State Government broken up, and its leading members prosecuted for treason, it is not likely that the Lieutenant-Governor, a South Carolinian by birth, and as great a traitor any of them, will find it prudent to return. ... This singular dissolution of a State Government, that has just occurred in Missouri, will inflict serious evils on many creditors of the State. The chartered Banks of the State, by a suspension of specie payments, had forfeited their charters. The Legislature at its recent session agreed to release the Banks from this penalty, on condition that they loaned to the State five hundred thousand dollars, the purpose of which was supposed to be the payment of the July interest on the Missouri bonds. But there had been late indications that Gov. Jackson and his rascally coadjutors... would not devote the funds to be received... to any such purpose, but would appropriate it to the wicked schemes of Confederate rebellion... When Gen. Lyons (Federal) was advised of the presence of the Treasurer in St. Louis... he at once arrested (him) and kept $500,000 out of the hands of the rebel Jackson. While it is gratifying to know that the rebel cause is deprived of this expected treasure, it is doubtful whether we can congratulate the Missouri bondholders that they will get theirs dues of interest in July...

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