Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-01-16
A BIT OF HISTORY.

Constitutional Convention OF 1S6o--+Ah
Amendment Which Failed of Passage
The Rejoicngs in st. Louis and Congratu'
lationS From Illinois.
When President Abraham Lincoln is
sued his proclamation emancipating the
slaves, the instrument could only apply
to the States that were in rebellion and
consequently under martial law. Mis-
souri, was a loyal State, in which the
| rights of shareholders were protected
by law until two years later, when the
ordinance of emancipation was made
part of the Constitu ton of the State.
The Constitutional convention of 1865
was held at Mercantile Library Hall In
st. Louis, and it gave to the State
what was known as the Drake Constr
tuition" 1t was on January IL,
1865, that the interesting document
became part of the organic law of the
State. The late Arnold krekel, after
wards United States Judge for the
Western District of Missouri, presided;
Chas. 5. Drake was vice-presldent,
Amos B. Foster, secretary, and Henry j.
Stlerlin was door-keeper.
According to the rules Of the conven-
ton each member of the convention was
those who voted against the emancipa-
ton was William Switzler, who occu-
pied the position of United States Com
missioner of Statistics in the Treasury
Department under Cleveland, and until
quite recently. Door-keeper Stierlin,
who had just returned from the war, in
which he had served gallantly as Major
of the First Missouri Cavalry, was an
expert penman. He transcribed the
ordinance with India ink on IA large
parchment of elephant size, and the
| delegates in turn signed it.
A special committee of three carried
the precious document to jefferson City,
where it was deposited with Governor
Thomas c. Fletcher, and the original is
now in the archives of the State.
The large majority of the signers of
the ordinance have long since passed
over into the land OF clear vision. but
Judge Henry A. Clovor. Major EmoryS.
Foster, Chauncey I. Filley, George 2.
Strong, Gustavus st. Gem. Charles ID.
Drake and Isador Busch are still with
the living.
The State Constitutional convention
assembled on January 6, 1868. 1t was
composed of siXty-six members. The
first important action of the convention
was the subject of the abolition of slav-
cry in the State. On the 18th a COM
mittee reported the ordinance.
The ordinance having passed to 4 sec
ond reading, Mr.. Drake prepared an
amendment, in these words:
That no person can on account Of color be
disqualified as a witness, or be disabled to
contract be prevented from acquiring,
holding or transmitting property, or be
liable to any other punishment for any Of
Tense than that imposed upon others for like
causes, or be restricted in the exercise OF re-
ligious worship, or be hindcred in receiving
an education, or be subject in law to any
restraints diSqualtications in regard to
any personal rights other than such are
held upon others under like circumstances.
The time was not ripe for the en-
franc basement of the negro, and after
considerable debate the amendment was
rejected. The vote on the ordinance
was fnally-ayes, 81; noes, 4; absent, 2.
A resolution was offered and adopted
that copy of the ordinance be sent by
special messenger to the Governor of the
State at jefferson City, and that he be
requested to issue his proclamation stat
ing that by an irrevccable act of the
convention slavery is abolished in the
State of Missouri now and forever.
The telegraph beat the special mes
senger with the glad tidings, and Gov
ernor Fletcher on the day of the pas
sage of Missouri's emancipation ordi-
nance issued the following proclama ton:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT. CITY OF JEFFER-
son, Mo-. January IL, 1sd5-I 1t havi ing pleased
ton the sOvercignS of Missouri who through
their delegates in convention assembled
with proper legal authority and SOlemnity
have this day ordained that hereafter in this
State there shall neither be slavery nor in
voluntary servit4d e, except in punishment
duly convicted, and all persons held to serv-
ice or labor as slaves are hereby declared
free.
Now therefore, by authority of the SUI
preme executive power vested in me by the
Constitution of Missouri, I, Thomas C.
Fletcher, Governor of the State of Missouri
do proclaim that henceforth and forever no
person within the jurisdiction of this State
shall be subject to any aDrid@ement of lib
crty except such as the law shall prescribe
for the common good, or know any master
but God.
In testimony whereof 1 have hereunto
signed my name and caused the great seal
of the State to be affixed at the City of JET
fcrson, the 18th day of January, Ammo Domi-
nj 1865.
[SigncdI THOMAS c. FLETCHER
by the Governor:
FRANCIS RODMAN, Secretary of State.
The event of the passage of the ordi.
nance and the proclamation of the Gov
crnor were hailed in st. Louis by the
loyal people with general rejoicing. and
on the night of the eventful day there
was grand illumination. The illumi-
nation of parts of Fourth street was par
ticularly fine, attracting to every square
between Market and Washington avenue
a great concourse of citizens. The dis
play of fireworks from the dome of the
courthouse. under the brilliant light
shed far and wide by the full illumira-
ton of the Planters House and other
buildings of that neighhorhood made
that quarter of the city great center of
attraction. Verandah Row and the
buildings on the corner of Washington
avenue and Fourth street were also very
brilliant with flags and lanterns, and
many private dwellings throughout the
city were Illuminated.
The whole number of slaves in Mis-
souri,. according to the census of 1860
was 114,93l. On the day following the
reioicings the Constitutional convention
received telegram of congratulation
from the Governor and Legislature of
Illinois.
The motion was made in the conven-
ton to reimburse the loyal owners of
slaves for their losses, but it was tabled
by a vote of-ayes, A; noes, 4; and a
clause was inserted in the Constitution
prohibiting the Legislature from appro-
priating money for such purpose.
The entire Constitution. as adopted at