USA > Missouri > Saline County > History of Saline County, Missouri > Part 30
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The capture of Harper's Ferry, by John Brown, in October, 1859, and other movements of the abolitionists of the north, greatly excited the people of the south, especially those of the border states. Public meet- ings, at which speeches were made, and resolutions adopted, were very frequent, and attended by the leading men of all parties.
December 26, 1859, a public meeting was held in the court house at Marshall, pursuant to calls made by former meetings at Marshall and Arrow Rock. The meeting was presided over by R. E. Snelling, Esq., of Miami, and G. W. Allen and J. S. Davis, editors respectively of the Herald and Democrat, were the secretaries.
The objects of the meeting were fully explained by J. W. Bryant, and M. W. O'Bannon, Esq .; and Dr. M. W. Hall, Vincent Marmaduke, Dr. Elijah Clarkson, T. R. E. Harvey, Dr. C. E. Smith, and M. A. Gaulden were appointed a committee on resolutions. This committee reported nine resolutions, condemning in the severest terms, the Harper's Ferry outrages and their sympathizers, aiders and abetters; declaring that the Union would be prized, " only so long as the constitution, in letter and in spirit, is the supreme law of the land;" that the southern states " have a
266
HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.
right to demand of the northern states, that they shall pass such laws as will put a stop to the ceaseless war made on the southern people by their citizens, in abolition harangues, the circulation of incendiary papers, and resistence to or evasion of the fugitive slave law ;" "that the election to the presidency, in 1860, of Wm. H. Seward, or any other member of the Republican party, avowing the same principles, will be a virtual dissolu- tion of the Union;" with other sentiments of the same spirit and purport.
A committee of three, W. B. Sappington, Dr. LeGrand Atwood, and T. R. E. Harvey, were appointed to memorialize the legislature upon the following subjects: First, Pledging the state of Missouri to unite with the other southern states in such measures as may be necessary for the maintenance of their rights under the constitution. Second, To revive the militia laws. Third, To make void negro testimony received in the courts against the citizens of those states where negroes are permitted to testify against white persons. Fourth, To amend the constitution so that negroes convicted of rape or other high crimes should suffer death.
Another resolution was offered by Mr. Shackleford and adopted, as fol- lows: "That in the event of the election of a black-republican presi- dent in 1860, that a convention of the southern states be called to take such measures as will conduce to the great interests of the south. "
There can be no question but that there was great distrust of the people of the north by the slaveholding portion of the country at this time, and, as subsequent events showed, with good reason. The people of the south had great capital invested in slave property, and there was a large element in the north, constantly increasing, that desired to deprive them of this property. It was in everybody's mouth that a dissolution of the Union would occur some day, and many were already preparing for such an event in both sections of the country.
The county election of 1859, was probably one of the most exciting ever held in Saline. Party lines were drawn with exceeding bitterness and a rigor never known before. W. A. Wilson, who for some years had held the consolidated offices of circuit and county clerk, the leader of the Americans, or whigs, as they were afterwards called, the Bell and Everett party, was a candidate for re-election. The democrats determined to bring out a separate candidate for each office, circuit and county clerk, and nominated John Sheridan for circuit clerk, and Jesse Davis for county clerk.
The election resulted as follows:
267
HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.
FOR CIRCUIT CLERK.
Townships.
W. A. Wilson.
Jesse Sheridan.
Arrow Rock
120
198
Jefferson
160
160
Miami .
182
137
Grand Pass
4S
49
Salt Pond
120
129
Black water
49
55
Marshall
116
170
Total
795
898
FOR COUNTY CLERK.
Townships.
W. A. Wilson.
Jesse Davis.
Arrow Rock
111
203
Jefferson
152
159
Miami
180
142
Grand Pass
22
89
Salt Pond
105
154
Blackwater
60
43
Marshall.
110
179
Total
740
969
Sheridan being elected circuit clerk by a majority of 103 votes, and Jesse Davis county clerk by a majority of 227 votes.
THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN OF 1860, AND ITS EFFECTS.
In 1860 the population of Saline was 14,699, one-third of which-4,876 -were slaves.
THE ELECTIONS OF 1860.
The August election, in 1860, was one of the most exciting ever held in Missouri. Claiborne F. Jackson, then a citizen of Saline county, was the regularly nominated democratic candidate for governor. Against him the Bell and Everett party nominated Sample Orr, and the campaign soon became warm. The division of the democratic party at Charleston, South Carolina, had, of course, resulted in its division everywhere. C. F. Jack- son endeavored, at first, to conduct the canvass, so far as himself was concerned, without division, and without declaring whether he was for Douglas or Breckenridge. The St. Louis Republican, then, as yet, a power in Missouri, and a strong Douglas paper, forced Jackson to come out for Douglas. Immediately the Breckenridge democrats in the state called a convention, and nominated Hancock Jackson for governor. The keenest interest was felt by the citizens in the result. The following is the
268
HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.
result of the August election, 1860, for governor, lieutenant-governor, congress, representative and sheriff.
Gardenhire, the republican candidate for governor, received no vote in Saline county.
FOR GOVERNOR, AUGUST, 1860
Dem. C. F. JACKSON.
B. and E. S. ORR. 128
Breckenridge. HANCOCK JACKSON. 3
Arrow Rock
149
Saline City.
86
14
Jefferson
152
150
2
Miami
157
221
Grand Pass
77
SO
1
Salt Pond.
95
203
Blackwater
69
81
3
Marshall
148
125
10
933
1004
19
FOR LIEUT. GOVERNOR, AUGUST, 1860.
Dem. T. C. REYNOLDS.
J.T. FAGG.
Breckinridge. M. M. PARSONS.
Arrow Rock
146
130
4
Saline City
90
15
Jefferson
154
151
1
Miami.
158
220
Grand Pass
77
80
Salt Pond
104
195
4
Marshall.
152
124
7
950
956
16
AUGUST, 1860.
CONGRESS. SHERIFF.
REP.
Arrow Rock
149
132
115|
154|
159|
112
Saline City
90
15
69
26
90
13
Jefferson
153
150
148
146
153
152
Miami.
164
203
200
167
139
236
Grand Pass
72
S1
65
91
70
S5
Salt Pond.
113
177
98
191
117
178
Blackwater
72
83
65
89
82
SO
Marshall .
15S
120
151
120
167
110
971
961|
911!
984
977
966
Jno. W. Reed.
F. T. Mitchell.
R. Ruxton.
B. and E.
D. R. Durrett.
M. W. Hall.
B. and E.
I. S. Parsons.
Dem.
B. and E.
Dem.
Dem.
..
69
S1
Blackwater
B. and E.
269
HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.
As will be seen by the foregoing tables the whigs, or Bell and Everett party, carried the county in every case, except for representative in the state legislature and for member of congress. Dr. Hall took his seat at the beginning of the session in Jefferson City, and was one of the most earnest supporters of Governor Jackson's war measures, so far as he had any. Afterwards Dr. Hall went to Neosho, where the governor had called the legislature to meet him in November, 1861, and where he voted for the ordinance of secession, which was there passed by the legislature.
FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT 1860, AND PROSECUTING ATTORNEY.
-
Bell and Everett.
Douglas and Breckenridge
Johnson.
and Lane.
Royale. 183
Bryant.
Marshall .
243
138
98
275
Arrow Rock.
146
71
80
121
133
Saline City
13
44
40
22
50
Jefferson
148
105
30
151
115
Miami.
210
89
64
199
110
Salt Pond.
181
69
29
127
100
Blackwater
45
17
18
36
35
Grand Pass.
49
30
7
50
27
1035
563
366
889
845
The presidential election in November, 1860, stirred the popular heart to its profoundest depths. For ten stormy years the agitation of the slavery question had kept the people in a state of continued excitement and tur- moil. All these stormy scenes, in and out of congress, culminated in the elections of 1860. The democratic party itself was rent in twain, and the southern states were divided between the Breckenridge, the Douglas and the Bell and Everett parties. The August election, triangular then, as in November, had been a test in Missouri, the passions of the people had been deeply aroused.
Saline, like almost every county in the state, was agitated to the utmost. As will be seen by the foregoing table, Saline gave a larger vote for Bell ' and Everett than for Douglas and Breckenridge combined. In Saline not a vote was cast for Lincoln. The vote of the state was, however, quad- rangular, viz: for Bell, 58,372; for Douglas, 58,801; for Breckenridge, 31,317; and for Lincoln, 17,028, and Douglas carried Missouri (the only state he did carry) by a bare plurality of 429 votes.
The presidential election in November was followed by a great calm. Men were brought face to face, at last, with a disruption of the Union, and the very imminence and magnitude of the crisis seemed to calm and quiet both sides. But it was the calm before the storm-like the calm which, in nature, ever precedes the bursting out of stormy strife among the elements. In Saline county there were very few who were really secessionists per se. All now saw from the attitude of the south that war
270
HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.
was imminent, and all without distinction of past party affiliations, struck hands to do what they could do, to bring about reconciliation, compromise and peace. People came together and discussed the troubled state of the Federal outlook.
MASS MEETING AT MARSHALL, DECEMBER, 1860.
December 15, 1860, a mass-meeting of the citizens was called to meet in the court house to consider the disturbed condition of the country; and to show the really union and conservative sentiment of the citizens of Saline as late as the winter of 1860-1, reference is here made to the pro- ceedings of that meeting, as given by the Marshall Democrat of even date. The best and ablest men of the county were present at this meeting, most of them now dead. Among those who took a part, still living, is Wm. H. Letcher of Marshall. Ex-Governor M. M. Marmaduke, was called to the chair, and the editors of county papers requested to act as secretaries. On motion of Col. Allen, a committee consisting of T. R. E. Harvey, Dr. Price, Col. Allen, Dr. E. S. Clarkson, Q. A. Thomson, Col. J. M. Lewis, and T. W. Gaines, was appointed to draft business, or resolutions for the meeting. After a short absence the committee returned with two reports, majority and minority. After a warm discussion, both reports were refer- red to a special committee, consisting of Col. T. P. Bell, Dr. Towles, J. W. Bryant, Dr. Hardeman and E. D. Graves, and the meeting adjourned until Monday, Dec. 17, 1860. Present and active at this meeting, was the governor-elect, C. F. Jackson.
On Monday a very large mass-meeting assembled in the court house, and the special committee made its report, submitting the following reso- lutions, which, after much discussion by Messrs. Kelly, Mitchell, McDaniel, Letcher, Gov. Jackson, Clarkson and others, were finally adopted unani- mously:
Resolved, That the relation of the citizen to his government, requiring that he should render obedience and aid to it, while it, at the same time, extends to him security and protection, and it being a feature of the gov- ernment under which we live, that the citizen has the government under his control and direction, he cannot, consistently with honor or duty, abandon that government until the evils become such as to justify revo- lution, and until a fair and honest effort to redress them by constitutional means shall have been tried and failed.
2d. That we consider the constitution as the basis of the Union, and that the Union cannot be preserved if the constitution, and the laws made in accordance with the provisions thereof, be contemned, disregarded, or nullified.
3d. That the unconstitutional and unfriendly action of the northern states in regard to the execution of the fugitive slave law, evinces a deter- mination on their part to interfere with rights conceded to the south by the constitution, and that the election of a president of these states upon a sectional issue is a just cause of irritation and alarm to the people of the
271
HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.
south, that the principles upon which a republican president has been elected, if acted out, will be a just cause for dissolution of the Union.
4th. That in this emergency it becomes all good citizens, especially those of the south, to maintain their constitutional rights-asking what the constitution grants to them, and giving what it concedes to others.
5th. That the south should demand as conditions upon which frater- nal feelings can again be restored between the north and the south, a speedy repeal of all laws made to interfere with and defeat the execution of the fugitive slave law, the punishment of citizens who do interfere to prevent its execution, and non-interference by the north with slavery in the states, in the territories, and in the District of Columbia.
6th. That if these just demands be not acceded to by the north-much as we are attached to the Union and desire its preservation-we of the south will heartily unite for the maintenance of our rights, if need be, out of the Union.
7th. That we recommend to the legislature of the state of Missouri, a revival and reorganization of the militia laws, under such limitations and restrictions as to make it so efficient as to guard our rights against all hos- tile inroads.
Sth. That the Federal union can only be maintained and preserved by securing to the people of the several states their equal and just rights. Any attempt, therefore, to coerce by physical force, any of the southern states into the Union (in the event of secession), should be condemned by every lover of his country.
9th. That the legislature of Missouri be asked to take immediate action for the call of a state convention in Jefferson City, on -- date, and to take such steps, in concert with other states of the Confederacy, as the exigencies of the crisis may demand; and we further recommend, that all the slave-holding states meet in convention at Nashville, Tennessee, or some other point, at as early a day as such convention can possibly be assem- bled, to consider the imperilled condition of our country, and to concert measures to harmonize conflicting opinions, and preserve the union, if it can be done; and if such desirable end cannot be accomplished, then to take measures for their own safety and union in a Southern Confederacy.
This was one of the largest meetings that ever assembled in the county, and there was great unanimity of sentiment among those who had lately been political enemies.
THE FIRST YEAR OF THE CIVIL WAR.
Sixteen years have elapsed since the last gun was fired in the great sectional war,-since the last Confederate army surrendered, and it has been found extremely difficult to gather, locate, and date the various inci- dents of the war, as they happened in Saline county, especially as con- nected with the southern side. At the close of the war, those who had engaged on the southern side surrendered, and seemed to desire, and to endeavor to cast away from them the memories of all that had occurred
272
IIISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.
in those four long years of war, and final failure: and now, after the lapse of sixteen years, they have, in a great measure, forgotten many incidents, and nearly all dates. Hence, perfect exactness and completeness have been found very nearly impossible.
The real province of history is to relate events as they actually trans- pired, to deal with the philosophy of events; and it is not history when the historian garbles facts, or colors events with personal or party pas- sion. The war of the sections was, in reality, a civil war that continued four long and bloody years; in which all the fierce passions of human nature were aroused, and it is even yet too early for the historian to work out the true philosophy of that terrible struggle, in which blood and treas- ure were poured out like water, and the whole continent resounded with the clash of arms, and shook with the tread and shock of mighty, con- tending armies.
In dealing with this great military drama, so far as Saline county was concerned, only naked facts and events will be given, without shade of coloring upon either side, as entirely as it is possible to do so. A simple statement of facts and a record of events is all that is required or desired here.
Few actual battles were fought within the limits of Saline county. The tread of either great army was rarely heard within her borders. But the sympathies of the people of Saline were earnestly enlisted upon one or the other side; and the passions then engendered have not yet been fully calmed and subdued, and hardly will be, while this generation survives. There were many brave and gallant sons of Saline, tender and true, who wore the Gray, and many who wore the Blue, and laid down their pre- cious lives for home and country. Their bones whiten every battle-field from Lexington, Mo., to Savannah, Ga. It was a question of principle upon both sides, and both believed they were right. The war involved certain principles, among others, that had been antagonistic for four thousand years, and could not be promiscuously upheld among one com- mon people. The war was a necessity to settle and solve certain prob- lems that could not remain unsolved, and could be solved in no other way. There was no real treason upon either side. In the war was found the solution of many problems-the sword cut many Gordian knots, and swept them forever out of the way, leaving the United States an indis- soluble Union of indestructible States. True and knightly were these sons of Saline who took their lives in their hands and went out to the war, whether they wore the blue or the gray, and as brave as ever the six hundred who rode into the jaws of death at Balaklava. Whether gray or blue-these heroes-they died for home and country.
273
HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.
These, in the robings of glory, Those, in the gloom of defeat ; All, with the battle-blood gory, In the dusk of eternity meet Under the sod and the dew, Waiting the Judgment day ;
Under the laurel the Blue, Under the willow, the Gray.
During the last three years of the conflict, Federal troops were almost continually in the county, but they were generally outposts, or scouting parties; and on the southern side guerrillas, and at two different times only, can large armies be said to have been on her soil, and once only is there a record of any fight that approached the dignity of a battle. Most of the citizens of the county were engaged upon one side or the other, and some of the sons of Saline, as, for instance, Gov. Jackson and Gen. Marmaduke, played leading parts in the mighty drama, as it was played out, west of the great river.
ELECTION OF DELEGATES TO THE STATE CONVENTION.
In January, 1861, the legislature then sitting in Jefferson City, passed the act to consider the disturbed state of affairs, and fixed the 18th day of Feb- ruary, 1861, for the meeting of this convention in Jefferson City. At the election the vote in this county stood as follows:
VOTE FOR DELEGATES TO THE CONVENTION.
Townships.
Napton. Slaughter. Thomson. Marmaduke.
Sawyer.
Philips. 186
Mitchell.
Marshall ..
91
81
83
205
193
Arrow Rock
91
89
93
110
120
114
Blackwater.
20
24
26
59
59
58
. .
Salt Pond.
19
8
18
293
336
329
..
Grand Pass.
59
42
63
73
72
60
. .
Miami.
106
97
97
194
201
203
. .
Jefferson.
42
33
33
206
211
210
. .
Saline City Precinct.
54
54
54
36
39
34
Saline County
482
428
467
1175
1231
1194
3
Lafayette County
592
599
434
1846
1947
1826
2
Pettis County
222
201
283
819
858
846
5
Total
1296
1228
1184
3840
4036
3866
10
3
As the result of the election and the sending of such pronounced Union men as Jno. F. Phillips, S. L. Sawyer, and Vincent Marmaduke proved that as late as the 18th of February, 1861, the Union feeling in Saline was still stronger than ever. And thus it continued until the proclamation of President Lincoln, on the 15th of April, 1861, calling for volunteers to sup- press the rebellion.
At this time, nine out of every ten of the citizens of Saline were from Virginia, Kentucky, or Tennessee. They had a strong sentimental love of the Union, but they were generally opposed to coercion; and the presi- dent's proclamation produced a complete revulsion of feeling and senti- ment, leaving, for the time, hardly any Union men in the county.
18
.
274
HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE WAR.
After a much disturbed and stormy sitting, the first session of the twenty-first general assembly adjourned sine die, March 28, 1861. It was re-convened, however, by Gov. Jackson in a proclamation dated April 22, "for the purpose of enacting such laws, and adopting such meas- ures as may be deemed necessary and proper for the more perfect organ- ization and equipment of the militia of the state, and to raise money and such other means as may be required to place the state in a proper atti- tude of defense."
This legislature passed various acts in conformity to the governor's proclamation, one of which provided for calling out, organizing and sup- porting 'the military forces of the state, called "the Missouri State Guards." This bill passed within fifteen minutes after the receipt of the news of the Camp Jackson affair .*
Meantime, the people of Saline had been gradually preparing for actual war, for to this complexion they knew the troubles and excitement then engaging the public mind would come at last. Many of them deplored this; many sought to avert it; a few affected to disbelieve it, some desired it and even courted it, and all, or very nearly all, at heart felt that war would come. Everybody talked of the prospects, and of but little else. Those who wanted the state to secede, and cast her fortunes with the Southern Confederacy, were largely in the minority at first, but they were vastly more aggressive and in earnest than the "submissionists," and this fact, together with the startling events which followed the refusal of the Federal government to evacuate Ft. Sumter, strengthened and increased their numbers every day.
The governor of the state was a citizen of the county, and to him the people looked as a safe counselor. He was known by his intimate personal friends to be a secessionist, but his position and his desire to act for the best interests of his state and'its people, made him more cautious and reluctant to openly express his sentiments. He was the author of many resolutions passed by meetings of the citizens of various counties, all expressing the strongest sympathy and looking to ultimate connection with the Southern Confederacy. Upon these resolutions he expected to , base his future action. The people of Saline county, the old neighbors and friends of Gov. Jackson, had full confidence in him, and obeyed his orders cheerfully and with alacrity. Companies were made ready for organization, and to take the field whenever he should call for them. The first company raised was named in his honor and commanded by his nephew, who had resigned his place in the Federal army, and offered his sword to his native state.
Thereafter there was no more middle ground, and men were divided
*Sweitzler.
275
HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.
by sharply defined lines into southern and northern sympathizers, or those who wished Missouri to go with the Confederate states, and those who desired the state to remain in the United States, of which the former were very largely in the ascendency in the county.
THE MAY MEETING AT MARSHALL.
Irritated by President Lincoln's call for troops, and carried away by the fierce wave of excitement which swept over the state and almost frenzied the people, caused by the capture of Camp Jackson and the killing of many innocent citizens, men, women and children, on the 10th of May, 1861, in St. Louis, the people of Saline county assembled in the court house in Marshall, to express their sentiments, and to determine what to do. Under the angry excitement caused by the events of the tenth of May in St. Louis, this meeting included some men who, afterwards, in cooler moments, became the most earnest of Union soldiers, but who seemed now ready to aid in carrying the state into the arms of the South- ern Confederacy. The people gathered into Marshall by hundreds, and the excitement was intense. The meeting organized in the court house by electing Judge McDaniel president, and W. A. Wilson, vice-president. A series of resolutions were offered by Col. W. A. Wilson and unani- mousły adopted, strongly reprobating the course of Gen. Lyon in St. Louis, the president's call for troops, and calling on the convention then sitting to resist coercion and, if need be, for the immediate passage of some act that would vindicate the majesty of the state.
At this meeting a finance committee was appointed for the raising and disbursement of money for military purposes, which committee, as finally fixed, consisted of Dr. C. E. Smith, H. S. Mills and T. W. B. Crews, Esq. Col. Wilson, F. M. Fulkerson, with one or two other prominent men, guaranteed the sum of $5,000 for arming Saline soldiers; but as events shaped themselves these gentlemen soon withdrew their names from the guaranty.
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