By Ryan Reed
Rolla Express
12-24-1860
Vol. 1, No. 23
 | |
| Charleston Mercury Broadside 12-20-1860 |
South Carolina Has Seceeded
“From Friday’s Daily St. Louis
Bulletin we learn that the ordinance of secession passed the State Convention
of South Carolina on the 19th inst., unanimously, 169 members present. Here is the ordinance:
We the people of South Carolina,
in convention assembled, do declare and ordain that the ordinance adopted by us in the convention of the 23rd
of May 1778, whereby the Constitution of the United States was ratified, and
all acts of parts of acts of the General Assembly of the State ratifying
amendment to the said Constitution, are hereby repealed, and the union now
subsisting beteen South Carolina and other States, under the name of the United
States of America, is hereby disolved.”
The official news of South Carolina’s secession from the United States hit the Rolla Express 154 years ago today. An article later in the issue gives insight on the thoughts of the newspaper editors.
Political Prospects
“Gloomy
prospects hang over our
country at this time. We do not know but
the political troubles will terminate in shedding of fraternal blood.
But we hope not. Gleams of hope now and then brighten the
eastern horizon, but, as yet, the prospects are not the most flattering.
It has given rise to a good deal
of newspaper discussion, and much exaggeration, on both sides, has been
indulged in – much crimination and recrimination. In this DISCUSSION we take little interest,
but in the harmonious adjustment of all our national difficulties, we have a
deep interest. One party asserts the
North is intent upon humiliating the South and are determined to listen to no
propositions for compromise, while others assert that the leven of Conservatism
is working and is sure to accomplish all that the South demand, if let
alone. Fully we can not, of course
believe either. But from such facts as
we can gather from many part of the North, the free States are beginning to
back down. And if the South adhere to
their rights and maintain their ground they can yet obtain all they claim IN
the Union, which will be much better for them than the same guarantees OUT of
the Union.”
In previous issues, the editors have clearly sided with the South. However, they are clearly stating they prefer one harmonious Union rather than secession. A later article hints at the burden of war in Border States like Missouri.
Congress
“Pacific Measures calculated to
heal the breach between the North and South are being discussed in Congress and
it is hoped some measure will be favored to protect the rights of all the
States without involving us in war.
Missouri and the border states are interested in this because in the
event or war they will have to brunt to bear”
Locally, the biggest news was the arrival of the first train to Rolla
on the evening of December 22, 1860.
This wasn’t a passenger train but a construction train hauling laborers
and equipment.
The Cars Have Come
“We heard the shrill whistle of
the steam horse as we went to press last Saturday evening.”
With the coming of the train, Rolla wanted to showcase itself as the place to settle and set up shop.
Rolla, Missouri
“We call the attention of our
readers to this place for two reasons.
The first, because its rapid growth and business facilities entitle it
to notice. An secondly because the interest,
growth and prosperity of our town depends in a great measure upon the well
being of Rolla. Accustomed as we have
been in our travels through South-Western Missouri, to traversing gigantic
hills, and crossing deep and rapid streams, we were completely surprised, and
agreeably so, to find the road leading form this to Rolla, generally level and
smooth and but on insignificant stream to cross.
Rolla is situated on a beautiful
upland surrounded for miles by a level and productive country, which only needs
(like our own fertile soil) the right kind of cultivation to develop its vast
agricultural resources. This place is
now the permanent county seat of Phelps county, and its enterprising citizens
have already gone far in the erection of suitable and substantial county
buildings. In company with a citizen of
the place, the Hon. Sam. Williams, we visited several houses of business and
were utterly astonished to see such heavy stocks of goods, fine saloons,
hotels, &c. And last, but not least,
we had the pleasure of shaking by the hand our friend and neighbour of the
Express whose frank demeanor bade us “be at home” at once. The geographical position of our neighbour
city, the best accessable point on the Railroad, the advanced condition of
business houses at that place, all conspire to make it the point for Southern
trade and travel and to interweave its interest with that of ours
-Dent Co. Argus”
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