Immense Excitement

By Ryan Reed

Rolla Express

December 17, 1860

Vol. 1, No. 2

Local News

“The State Convention in South Carolina is said to have been called for the purpose of seceding-that of Georgia for deliberating-and those of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisanna for consulting.”

The single sentence by the Rolla Express notes the call of the South Carolina General Assembly for a Convention of the People of South Carolina to consider secession.  The call came on November 10^th and delegates were elected on December 6^th.  When the above type was assembled, inked and pressed onto paper, the convention had voted unanimously, 169-0, to secede from the United States on December 17^th.

The only information found about South Carolina’s secession is an advertisement at the end of the Express for D.R. Parsons store.  The advertisement reads:

Advertisement for Parsons Store in the Rolla Express

SOUTH CAROLINA’S

SECESSION

FROM THE UNION

has caused

IMMENSE EXCITEMENT

throughout the country, but hardly more than the

ASTONISHING LOW PRICES

at which goods can be purchased at

Wholesale or Retail

at the

CHEAP CASH STORE

of

D.R. PARSONS & CO.

Obviously, the Rolla Express or D.R. Parsons decided to make light of this serious situation that would pitch the country into a bloody four year war.

The local news section of the paper continued with the follow items.

“It is expected that the railroad will reach Rolla in the course of a day or two.”

“There is to be a ball at the Southern Hotel on the 2th inst.”

“Henry Andrae brought up from St. Louis among other goods, Jake Reynolds, who had escaped from Phelps Co. Jail, some time since.  He has been relodged at his old quarters”

“There are now lodged in Phelps County Jail for fighting James Kegan and Michael Wealen and there are others that ought to go.”

The biggest story in the paper was a trial concerning a fist fight between Isaiah Terril, Jesse Manners and Edmund Ward Bishop, the founder of Rolla.  The Express reported;

“Last week a good deal of feeling was excited by the trail of Isaiah Terril for assaulting Jesse Manners and EW Bishop, two very worthy citizens of our town.  Prior to this trail some were disposed to throw a good deal of blame on Terril for the part he acted In this affair; but a full and impartial examination of the whole matter, from beginning to end has disabused all that class of people of such views, and convinced them that he acted the part of a man of firmness, courage, and honor, vindicating his rights, as a citizen of a free country, and in now wise stooping from the highly respectable position which he has always held in society.  From the evidence in the case Mr. Bishop was the first to make the assault, and at the beginning of the affray Terril acted on the defense only.  During the contact Jesse Manners, interfered and attempted to pull Terril off, when Terril struck him, after repeatedly warning him to keep away.  Terril was first arrested for a breach of the peace in striking Manners.  This action was tried by a jury, who acquitted him of the charge, next for feloniously assaulting Bishop with intent to kill.  This last charge was investigated before out venerable grey haired townsman, Just. Marsh, who after a careful hearing of all the evidence and a close examination of the law applicable to the case, could not do otherwise than honorably acquit the Defendant.  This acquittal we think has given general satisfaction.  Williams Brown, and Clark appeared on the part of the prosecution, McGuire, and Harrington, for the defense.”