Slavery abolished in Missouri

Military and political acts abolishing slavery in Missouri long preceded Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation and the subsequent 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution. The 1850s saw John Brown in Kansas, the Bloody Kansas-Missouri Border War, and invading Jayhawkers.

In August 1861 following the humiliating Union defeat at Wilson’s Creek (Oak Hills) earlier in the month, General Fremont declared martial law in the State of Missouri. As part of this declaration, the property of men who were enlisted in the Missouri State Guard or other southern armies was subject to confiscation. This included slaves who were viewed as property (and taxed as other personal property).

In March 1862, Lincoln delivered a special message which recommended federal aid to any state implementing gradual emancipation. In Missouri two groups developed – the “Claybanks” which favored gradual emancipation and the “Charcoals” who insisted on immediate abolition.

On January 6, 1863, the United States House of Representatives passed a bill introduced by Missouri Congressman John W. Noeil. This bill called for the appropriation of $10 million to the State of Missouri to carry out emancipation provisions.

In July 1863, the state convention (replacement of the legislature elected in 1860) passed an ordinance of emancipation signed by Governor Gamble on July 1. This ordinance called for the cessation of slavery sales on July 4, 1870. As of that date no slaves were to be sold to non-residents. Slaves under age 12 (as of July 4, 1870) were to remain servants until their 23rd birthday, slaves over the age of 40 were to remain servants indefinitely, and all others (ages 13 – 39) were to remain servants until July 4, 1876.

On January 6, 1865, under the Radical Republican general assembly (50 of 66 seats), the state convention met in St. Louis. During this convention the Drake Constitution (so called for the convention’s vice-president Charles Drake) was adopted. On the topic of slavery, an ordinance of immediate abolition was introduced on January 6 and passed with 4 negative votes.

The 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution was passed by Congress 3 weeks later on January 31, 1865 and ratified by the states December 6, 1865.

Below is an image of the Emancipation Ordinance from the Library of Congress available at http://loc.gov/pictures/resource/pga.01805/




Sources

• McReynolds, Edwin C. Missouri: A History of the Crossroads State. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 1962. Print.
•  Volpe, Vernon L. “The Fremonts and Emancipation in Missouri.” The Historian (January 1, 1994).
•  “NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.; The Bill to Aid Missouri in Abolishing Slavery Passed in the House. Labors of the Van Wyck Investigating Committee. GOVERNMENT FINANCES” New York Times, January 7, 1863.