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the compact originally made between said Government and the State of Missouri,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 now 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 the 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.
I hereby certify the above and foregoing to be a full, true,
and perfect copy of the original roll. In testimony whereof I have hereto set
my hand and the great seal of the State of Missouri, this 2d day of November,
1861.
[seal.]
B. F. MASSEY, Secretary
of, State.
SOURCE: Journal of the Congress of the Confederate States of
America, 1861-1865, Vol. 1, p. 481
