In response to a call by the deposed Gov. Jackson, dated at Lexington, September 26, 1861, the ex-General Assembly of Missouri met in extra session at the Masonic Hall, Neosho, October 21, 1861.  There were present thirty-nine members of the Confederate wing of the old House, and ten members of the old Senate.  On the day appointed Price's command held the hills above the town; while the itinerant Legislature held council in the old Masonic Hall.  Miles Vernon, of Ladede, presided, the motion in his favor being made by M. C. Goodlett, of Johnson County.  The Senate, like the House, adjourned from day to day until October 28, when Charles H. Hardin, of Callaway County, moved that the presiding officer of the Senate appoint messengers to bring absent members in, while M. M. Parsons, of Cole County, proposed that the presiding officer request Maj.-Gen. Price to furnish messengers with the necessary outfit.  On that day James S. Rains, of Jasper, moved that John T. Crisp, of Johnson County, be elected secretary; John T. Tracy, of Cole, assistant secretary; James McCoun, of Johnson, enrolling clerk, and M. R. Johnson, sergeant-at-arms.  These motions were carried and a message from Gov. Jackson read.  Immediately after the readlng Goodleft introduced his bill --" An act to dissolve the political connection between the State of Missouri with the United States of America," which was read, rule suspended, read a second and third time and passed--nine senators for -- Charles H. Hardin voting contra, and the bill sent to the House.  At 2 P. M. Senator R. L. Y. Peyton, of Cass County, moved that the House be requested to return the bill, which motion was carried, and soon Thomas H. Murray, clerk of the House, re-presented the bill to the Senate, and reported that the House had passed a bill, Isaac N. Shambaugh alone dissenting, "An act declaring the ties heretofore existing between the United States and the State of Missouri dissolved."  The House bill was then considered, some amendments made and adopted.  It was then returned with a report of the senators' concurrence.  The House accepted the report, the bill was passed and immediately signed by the Governor, meantime the cannon ranged round the little Neosho of 1861 belching forth all the fire and noise within their capacity, and the misguided men of Price's army equally loud in shrieks of approbation.  Another bill, "An act to notify the Provisional Government of the Confederate States of America of the Missouri General Assembly's action" was passed, concurred in by the House, greeted almost as boisterously as its predecessor, and signed by the Governor.  After these proceedings the House and Senate adjourned to meet at Cassville, October 31, 1861.

Dr. Barlow attended the Jackson Legislature at Neosho.  He states that the greater part of the business was done at the Armstrong House, rather than at the Masonic Hall.  The members of both Houses, as well as the executive, appeared to be in a hurry, owing, it is said, to the approach of Sanborn's Federal forces.  Plenty of champagne, brandy and whisky was used, but it cannot be said any of the members were drunk.  Gov. Jackson and staff were at the Armstrong House.  Dr. Barlow states the secession ordinance was furnished at Cassville or Pineville.  He is positive that he heard the cannon boom at Pineville the day the ordinance was passed; but all the record and the memory of 100 others are opposed to the Doctor's memory.  At Cassville the present Senator Vest copied or engrossed the ordinance, as this ended it.

At the time Jackson's Legislature went through the form of ratifying the secession ordinance there were 500 inhabitants there, inclusive of the civil and military forces of the State.  All the Union families, with perhaps two or three exceptions, had moved to Springfield before this time, and others, who did not wish to be involved on either side, fled to more secure quarters.

There were several reasons in 1861 that Neosho should be selected as the spot to launch forth the secession ordinance of October 31, 1861.  It was only about thirty miles from the Arkansas State line, and at that time the majority of the people were in sympathy with Gov. Jackson.  The springs might form an attraction, but in view of the fact that the seceding portion of the Executive Senate and House of Missouri carried with them a good supply of whisky, brandy and champagne, it must be concluded that the easy distance to the Arkansas line was the powerful magnet which drew the inspired Legislators to this point.

SOURCE:  Goodspeed's History of Newton County (1888), pages 268-270.

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