Rolla Express
January 28, 1861
Vol. 1, No. 28
Missouri Legislature
“The convention Bill after a long
discussion in both branches of the Legislature of the State has passed by an
almost unanimous vote – only two in the Senate and seventeen in the house
voting against the measure. The election
of three delegates from each Senatorial District will take place on the 18th
of February – less than one month hence – and the Convention will assemble on
the 28th of the same month.
This measure has been sustained by men of all parties, excepting the
Black Republicans.
After the passage of a bill to create a Constitutional Convention to
consider Missouri’s secession, the legislature stipulated the election of three
delegates from each senatorial district.
These three elected delegates would create the members of the
convention. Obviously, the Republicans
in the legislature voted against the Constitutional Convention to consider
secession.
The Convention
For the Rolla Express
“This is an important era in the
history of Missouri, and our whole Union.
Events have transpired within the past few months, that are calculated to
bring sorrow to the hearts of every patriot, and cause every lover of his
country to act with energy for his country’s good. The future of our glorious and much loved
union is a matter of interest to every citizen, and how to preserve it in all
its glory – to perpetuate it and hand it down to coming generations is a
subject for the contemplation of all.
Let us all think and act as becomes patriots – as men who love their
country for their country’s good.
The Legislature of this State,
hoping no doubt, to do good for the whole country, have passed a bill calling a
convention to be held on the 28th of February, the delegates to
attend sadi convention are to be elected on the 18th of February.
The time intervening between the
passage of the bill and the election is short.
The people, those who have to do the voting – who are really the source
of all power in our government, do not seem to be fully aware of the importance
of this convention. So far as I know,
but little is said about the matter in the country. I want the PEOPLE to begin to talk about the
matter, and to unite on the best men in the country as candidates to represent
us in the convention. As I am one of the
people and an interested party, I take the liberty of suggesting a ticket that
I think will faithfully and ably represent this district, promising at the same
time, to vote for any other ticket that may be agreed upon by a majority of the
people.
My ticket is
Wm G. Pomroy of Crawford
Wm. James of Phelps
C.H. Frost of Texas
And I venture to say that three
more acceptable men, or better qualified, will not be found in the
district. They are well known – are men
of talent, and know the wants of the people.
I for one would be pleased to see them announced as candidates.
PHELPS”
 |
| Daniel Parsons-First Mayor of Rolla. |
A Letter from Jefferson
“We are indebted to the courtesy
of T.F. Jones, Esq Sheriff of Phelps County, for the delivery of the following
letter from Mr. Williams:
Jefferson City, Jan 24, 1861
Hall of Representatives
Editor of the Express
Dear Sir: You have, of course, learned all the
particulars in reference to the convention Bill. It provides for the election of three
delegates from each Senatorial District.
You ought to call out your BEST MEN, as candidates. Rolla is now incorporated: D.R. Parsons is
appointed Mayor, and E.W. Bishop, John Webber, John Dunivin, E.G. Morse, F.
Hartj, A. Malcolm and H. Andrae are councilmen who hold their office until the
first Monday in June, when a regular election take place. They have the appointment of Marshal and
Treasurer. The election of Public
Printer and U.S. Senator are the principal topics here now. There is considerable excitement on this
question – what will be the result no one can predict. Green’s chances are the best but by no means
certain.
Yours &c
Sam’l G. Williams
Williams ran on the democratic ticket and was elected to the Missouri
House of Representatives by the people of Phelps County. He is relating the news of the election for
the Constitutional Convention. Plus, he
informs the Rolla Express that the City of Rolla is now incorporated and lists
that appointment to local government until a regular election can be held in
the Spring.
John W. Noell on Secession
“we publish the following letter
for the benefit of such of our readers as will no doubt be interested in seeing
what views their representative in Congress entertains in relation to the
present condition of our country:
Washington City, Jan. 14, 1861
N.B. Buck, Esq
Dear Sir: - Your favor of the 10th
inst. in which you say it would be a source of satisfaction to my constituents
to hear my views on national affairs at this juncture, is received. My silence up to this time has not been from
want of interest in the subject but rather because I saw no practical good I
could accomplish by writing or speaking upon it. When you attribute to me, as you do in your
letter, sentiments of devotion to the union of these sates, as also to the
south and her institutions, you do me no more than justice.
It is well know that I do not concur
in this doctrine of peaceable secession, as it is called; that I do not believe
the Constitution of the United States recognized the right of individuals or
states to destroy it at pleasure, with or without cause. Yet it is now too late to argue that
question. We have now to deal with
facts, not abstructions. Secession now
is no longer a question.
Revolution with its black,
tempestuous countenance and bloody hands, stand before us. The extreme southern states have already cut
loose form their moorings. It is for the
border states to determine what part they will play in this great tragedy, for
such I must call it. That determination
is not to be reached by the power of
passion, but by cool deliberation and sober judgment. The disunion movement in the south has
hitherto been of extreme excitement. It
is not the result of calm judgment conscious of intolerable wrongs for which no
redress is attainable.
Like all passionate movements,
the means of success are left to chance.
No system of finance or regular military organization have been
devised. In fact, in the fury of the
movement, they have been almost forgotten.
What must be the inevitable result?
I say DISASTER AFTER DISASTER, until we get into civil strife among ONE
ANOTHER, at the South. The revolution ,
as now organized, is a failure in advance.
A failure because its fruits turn to ashes on our lips. We seek SECUTIRY and PROTECTION, but we find
in the very morning of our revolutionary existence, CONFISCATION AND
DESTRUCTION.
If Missouri and other border
states, stimulated by like passions and excitement rush headlong and blindfold
into this revolution, they increase the magnitude of the calamity, and close
the door forever against the last hope of preserving the constitution and the
UNION.
And what is to follow the
revolution? The North can not conquer us
if she were to attempt it. This is not
the danger ahead. Did you ever examine
critically the material of which these revolutions were composed? If you have
you cannot have fail to discover that they have been, with a single exception,
in the hands of the turbulent and reckless; not the prudent and wise. Men of wisdom, men, of peace, men of property
are always backward in these revolutionary times. Those who HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE are ever
foremost in the work of destruction.
From this cause the leadership of the Southern disunion movement will
soon pass into the hands of reckless political and military adventures. They will require immense sums of money for
the CAUSE and still greater sums for themselves. A system of exaction upon the substantial men
of the country will begin. They will lay their hands on money, negroes, lands,
everything. Murmers against these
exactions will be allowed by confiscation and – shall I say it – DEATH!
Aye horrid as may be the idea, I
say death! Then will begin to go up to
heaven, as in the days of the “reign of terror,” the wails of the widow and
fatherless. Then, when too late, shall
we be able to estimate the blessings of this government of law and order, under
whose protection influence none dare make us afraid. When we have reached the climax of horrors,
torn to pieces by factions, involved in all the quarrels and strifes between
military rivals, with no country, no nationality, no peace, no safety, we will
fly from the bloody scene of an endless anarchy to a absolute despotism. Thus it will be that this most wonderful
government shall die in the same century that gave it birth. Surely, if the border states hold the power
to avert these calamities, it should be done.
They do hold this power, in my opinion.
What should they do? My judgment is, that they should act
cautiously, deliberately. Revolution
well prepared for, is as practicable as if we rush into it without
preparation. If we can get time, all our
wrongs will be redressed. The desperate
politicians are working against time.
They are afraid of the sober second thought of the people. Mark my prediction, the disunion politicians
of Missouri will not allow the people to decide, whether or not they are to
have a convention. Oh, no. This would never do. It would give the people time to think for
themselves.. “We must do the thinking for them.
If we do not the country will be saved, and we shall be lost,” is the
idea now up permost in the minds of disunionists. My own judgment is , that the border States
should make wise and timely arrangements to promote their financial strength; to prefect their
military organization and assume the attitude of peace makers, with arms in had
to defend their own rights, when all peaceful means have failed.
If Missouri at last is forced to
assent to a dissolution of the Union, she must have guarantees that her rights
and interest will be secure in a Southern Confederacy. The gulf State are dictorial in their manner,
and aristocratic in their tendencies.
They will insist upon basing the right to vote on property. The yeomanry of Missouri will never yield
this point. Free trade is to be a ruling
element. The iron, lead, copper and
manufactures of Missouri, as well as the agricultural interests dependent on
them, would go down under the operation of such a system. A system of exorbitant direct taxation is
abhorrent to our people. We could not
submit to it. If we cannot live in peace
under our present government, then I am not willing to risk any new
confederation without knowing how and where we are to stand in it.
For these reasons let Missouri
prepare well for contingencies, but stand cool and firm to act as her own
honor, dignity and the happiness of her people demands. Above all let us cling to the Union as long
as one ray of hope remains that it may be saved. In giving utterance to these sentiments, I
know that I am braving the epidemic that has seized the public mind in my own
State, but I am ready to meet the consequences.
I have no political ambition that could be gratified by place and power
in a miserable little sectional confederacy, or military despotism. My political existence is of no consequence
whatever. I can only know that the
country is in imminent peril, and I shall do all I can to save it without
regard to consequences personal to myself.
I know no particular distinctions now but on “for or against my country.” Democrats, Whigs, Americans, Know Nothings
are names that I now blot out from my memory.
I shall strives to forget them all until we get through this dark and
stormy night.
Very truly yours,
John W. Noell”
John Noell was elected during the Summer of 1860 to the United States
Senate to represent District 7, which included Phelps County. During his candidacy he ran as a Southern
Democrat and supported Breckinridge for the Presidency.
In his letter to N.B. Buck, co-editor of the Rolla Express, Noell states
support of the Southern states and her institutions but also a devotion to the
Union. In short, the body of his letter
warns against disunion and strives for cooler heads to hash out a peaceful
resolution rather than secession. He
believes that if the Constitutional Convention vies for secession Missouri and
joins the confederacy, she will not have equal standing with the more powerful
Gulf States. In his finally paragraph,
Noell states “Democrats, Whigs, Americans, Know Nothings are names that I now
blot out from my memory.” Basically,
Noell is telling his constituents that he will work with anyone to come to a
peaceful resolution instead of secession, which he believes will lead to civil
war.
