Did Missouri secede from the Union ? Wilson's Creek National Battlefield Park, has in it's collection, the actual Senate Journals which reveal that a legal quorum existed in the Senate. The House records are not known to exist. A State Guard journal in the Gen. Sweeney  Museum, reports that the vote for the House was being put off a couple days so that a quorum could be reached by the arrival of additional legislators. An important point to note, is that when the Federal government set up the Unionist government of the State, they made no point to dispel this report of a legal quorum, they simply "declared vacant all state offices, swept the General Assembly out of existence...and later vacated the Mo. Supreme Court and then even circuit clerks".  This was pure and simple revolution, the overthrow of the legal and Constitutional Government of the State of Missouri. The Union government did not even have with them the authority of the Great Seal of the State of Missouri, which was in the hands of the elected officials of the State.

     The following document which was authored by Missouri legislator, George Graham Vest, demonstrates that the primary motive for secession of the State of Missouri, was to protect the lives of it's citizens (Men, women and Children). Gen. Nathaniel Lyon, Lincoln's official representative,  made it clear that before he would "concede to the State of Missouri for one single instant the right to dictate to my government in any matter.., I would see you... and every man, woman, and child in the State, dead, and buried." Lyon then rasped out, "This means war. In an hour one of my officers will call for you and conduct you [referring to Governor Jackson, Gen. Price, and Governor's aid, Thomas Snead] out of my lines." Lyon's actions show he held no importance to the U.S. Constitution, the delegation of rights attributed to the States and it's people. Furthermore, he threatened the lives of all it's citizens as well as declaring war on a pro-Union State, forcing it to take necessary emergency measures. As Thomas Snead later wrote in his book, "Fight For Missouri", these actions were a rebellion against the State, and we might add, against the Constitution of the United States.

"...And to Missouri we
Extend both heart and hand
And welcome her a sister
Of our Confederate band
Tho surrounded by oppression
No one dare deter
Her adding to our Bonnie Blue Flag
Her bright and twelfth star! "

Lyrics, Bonnie Blue Flag, by Harry McCarthy, 1861.

Missouri's Ordinance of Secession

"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 whilst legally assembled under the State laws, forcibly occupying the State capital, and attempting, through the instrumentality of domestic traitors, to usurp the State governement, 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, as follows:

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, 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.

Passed by the Senate, Oct 28, 1861

Passed by the House, Oct 30, 1861

Signed by Governor Claiborne Fox Jackson, Oct 31 1861.

Missouri Senators to the Confederate Congress

John B. Clark, First Congress

R. L. Y. Peyton, First Congress

Waldo P. Johnson, Second Congress

L. M. Louis, Second Congress

Missouri Members of the House Sent to the Confederate Congress

Casper W. Bell, First Congress

John B. Clarke, Second Congress

A. H. Conrow, First and Second Congresses

William M. Cooke, First Congress

Thomas W. Freeman, First Congress

Thomas A. Harris, First Congress

R. A. Hatcher, Second Congress

N. L. Norton, Second Congress

Thomas L. Snead, Second Congress

George G. Vest, First and Second Congresses

Peter D. Wilkes, Second Congress