480 



MISSOURI. 



loan of $500,000 from the banks, at any rate 

 of interest not exceeding ten per cent. 



Fifteen cents on the hundred dollars of the 

 assessed value of taxable property in all the 

 counties were ordered to be collected during 

 the years 1861, 1862, 1863, in addition to the 

 tax levied by law. 



The Governor was authorized to purchase 

 arms and munitions of war, and to issue 

 $1,000,000 in bonds, payable respectively in 

 February, 1862, 1863, and 1864, in sums of not 

 less than ten or more than five hundred dollars, 

 to be received in payment of taxes. 



That portion of the general revenue laws ap- 

 propriating one-fourth of the two mill tax for 

 the purpose of education was suspended until 

 the year 1863 ; and any funds in the State 

 Treasury, or which might come into the hands 

 of the Treasurer, from the two mill tax, was 

 placed to the credit of the military fund. 



The military were put under the command 

 of the Governor, and required to take an oath 

 to obey him alone. Every able-bodied man in 

 the State was made subject to do military duty. 



During this time another despatch was re- 

 ceived, stating that it was the battery of the 

 southwest expedition which had been demand- 

 ed and surrendered. This put a different phase 

 on the matter, and was quite generally received 

 as the true version of the affair. 



The telegraph was then taken possession of 

 by the Governor, and every thing Remained in 

 uncertainty, but the excitement began to de- 

 crease. The two Houses met at half-past 

 seven, and continued in session until half-past 

 nine. Peaceably-disposed citizens retired to 

 rest, but shortly after twelve o'clock the whole 

 town was roused by the ringing of bells and 

 the shouts of men calling the members of the 

 Legislature. A tremendous thunder-storm pre- 

 vailed at the time, and continued for two or 

 three hours, and the hurrying of citizens 

 through the streets on foot and horse, the vivid 

 lightning and heavy thunder, produced a scene 

 not soon to be forgotten. The members hur- 

 ried to the Capitol, (having first to pass senti- 

 nels who had been stationed about the build- 

 ing,) and immediately went into secret session, 

 which continued until half-past three o'clock. 



The cause of this unusual commotion was a 

 despatch, which was received late at night, 

 stating that two thousand troops would leave St. 

 Louis at eleven o'clock for Jefferson City. Be- 

 fore the two Houses adjourned, however, news 

 was received that the Osage bridge had been 

 burned, and it was pretty well settled that if 

 the troops were on their way they could hardly 

 get through before ample preparations could be 

 made to receive them. In consequence of this 

 despatch, 12,000 kegs of powder were at once 

 loaded into wagons and sent off into the coun- 

 try, and the State treasure was also removed to 

 some place for safe keeping. 



The next day matters became more quiet, 

 and the true state of affairs was made known. 

 The surrender of Camp Jackson and the killing 



of citizens in St. Louis, as before reported, were 

 confirmed. (See ST. Louis.) 



Under the influence of the despatches bills 

 were introduced and passed both Houses after 

 one o'clock on Sunday morning, giving the 

 Governor more perfect control over St. Louis ; 

 also, the most ample power for suppressing 

 riots and insurrectionary movements through- 

 out the State. On the 15th the Legislature ad- 

 journed until September. On the same day 

 Gen. Harney, who had arrived at St. Louis and 

 resumed the charge of his military department, 

 issued a proclamation to the people of the 

 State. He described the military bill of the 

 Legislature as a secession ordinance, and stated 

 the purposes of the Federal Government in re- 

 gard to Missouri. He said : 



It is with regret that I feel it my duty to call your 

 attention to the recent act of the General Assembly 

 of Missouri, known as the military bill, which is the 

 result, no doubt, of the temporary excitement that 

 now pervades the public mind. This bill cannot be 

 regarded in any other light than an indirect secession 

 ordinance, ignoring even the forms resorted to by 

 other States. Manifestly its most material provisions 

 are in conflict with the Constitution and laws of the 

 United States. To this extent it is a nullity, and can- 

 not and ought not to be upheld or regarded by the 

 good citizens of Missouri. There are obligations and 

 duties resting upon the people of Missouri under the 

 Constitution and laws of the United States which are 

 paramount, and which, I trust, you will carefully con- 

 sider and weigh well before you will allow yourselves 

 to be carried out of the Union, under the form of 

 yielding obedience to this military bill, which is clearly, 

 in violation of vour duties as citizens of the United 

 States. 



It must be apparent to every one who has taken a 

 proper and unbiased view of the subject, that, what- 

 ever may be the termination of the unfortunate condi- 

 tion of things in respect to the so-called " Cotton 

 States," Missouri must share the destiny of the Union. 

 Her geographical position, her soil, productions, and, 

 in short, all her material interests point to this result. 

 We cannot shut our eyes against this controlling fact. 

 It is seen, and its force is felt throughout the nation. 

 So important is this regarded to the great interests of 

 the country, that I venture to express the opinion that 

 the whole" power of the Government of the United 

 States, if necessary, will be exerted to maintain Mis- 

 souri in her present position in the Union. I express 

 to you, in all frankness and sincerity, my own de- 

 liberate convictions, without assuming to speak for 

 the Government of the United States, whose author- 

 ity, here and elsewhere, I shall at all times, and under 

 all circumstances, endeavor faithfully to uphold. 



On the 20th a plan was agreed upon be- 

 tween Gens. Harney and Price for the mainte- 

 nance of peace and the avoidance of conflicts 

 between the Federal and State Governments. 

 Gen. Price pledged the whole power of the 

 State to maintain order among the people, and 

 Gen. Harney declared that, this being an- 

 swered, he had no wish to make any further 

 military movement in the State. They mutu- 

 ally enjoined upon the people to attend to their 

 civil business, and expressed the hope that the 

 elements which had so seriously threatened the 

 public peace would soon subside. 



This plan, however, proved unsuccessful, 

 and on the llth of June Gen. N. Lyon, Col. 

 Frank P. Blair, and Major H. A. Conant, on 



