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originally made between said Government and the State of Missouri, by invading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 while legally assembled under the State laws, forcibly occupying the
State capitol, and attempting through the instrumentality of domestic traitors
to usurp the State government, 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, That all
political ties of every character new existing between the Government of the
United States of America and the people and government of the State of Missouri
are hereby dissolved, and 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.