To Secede or Not Secede

In the early days of 1861 Missourians fell into three categories: Unconditional Unionists, Conditional Unionists, and Secessionists. As the names imply, the Unconditional Unionists were for remaining a part of the United States no matter what; the Conditional Unionists were in favor of remaining in the Union so long as the Federal Government made no further encroachments on state sovereignty; and the Secessionists felt immediate secession was necessary and justified to maintain state sovereignty. In early 1861 most Missourians were Conditional Unionists.

On January 18, 1861 the Missouri Legislature passed a bill that called for a State Convention to settle the secession question. Elections were held February 18 to elect delegates. With a hope of remaining neutral in impending struggle, Missouri elected a convention of delegates opposing secession. Former Governor Sterling Price would became the president of the convention.

Price was typical of many who opposed secession early in the war, but after certain events became secessionists. After presiding over the convention that voted against secession, Price would later become the commanding general of the Missouri State Guard, a Major General in the Confederate Army, and a popular choice in discussions across the south as successor to President Jefferson Davis.

Sources

• Harvey, Charles M. “Missouri from 1849 to 1861.” Missouri Historical Review, Volume II No. 1 (October 1907).
• Snead, Thomas L. The Fight for Missouri. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1886.
• McReynolds, Edwin C. Missouri: A History of the Crossroads State. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 1962.