Civil War Bonds Issued by Missouri, A History

Archive

-

St. Joseph Museums

The document details an event on October 21, 1861, when Governor C. F. Jackson, having moved into Southern Missouri from Jefferson City, called an extra State Legislature session in Neosho, Missouri, to address defense funding during the Civil War. Lacking a quorum, the legislature successfully passed an act on October 28 authorizing the issuance of Defense Bonds worth ten million dollars. These bonds were signed into law on November 5 in Cassville, Missouri. However, the bonds became worthless after the Confederacy failed, and the Fourteenth Amendment rendered them invalid. Post-war, payment issues persisted until 1874 when Missouri passed a law to audit war debts. Despite reaching an agreement with the Federal Government, irregularities halted further payments. Consequently, in 1875, a new Missouri Constitution Article repudiated all wartime obligations.

The document details an event on October 21, 1861, when Governor C. F. Jackson, having moved into Southern Missouri from Jefferson City, called an extra State Legislature session in Neosho, Missouri, to address defense funding during the Civil War. Lacking a quorum, the legislature successfully passed an act on October 28 authorizing the issuance of Defense Bonds worth ten million dollars. These bonds were signed into law on November 5 in Cassville, Missouri. However, the bonds became worthless after the Confederacy failed, and the Fourteenth Amendment rendered them invalid. Post-war, payment issues persisted until 1874 when Missouri passed a law to audit war debts. Despite reaching an agreement with the Federal Government, irregularities halted further payments. Consequently, in 1875, a new Missouri Constitution Article repudiated all wartime obligations.

Name/Title

Civil War Bonds Issued by Missouri, A History

Entry/Object ID

AM1987.29.2

Scope and Content

Civil War Bonds Issued by Missouri, A History. Typed Sheet October 21, 1861, Governor C. F. Jackson, who had retired from Jefferson City into Southern Missouri, called an extra session of the State Legislature to convene at Neosho, Missouri. That legislature adjourned from day to day for want of a quorum until October 28, when it passed an act of secession , voted ten million dollars for defense and authorized the issuance of Defense Bonds for that amount. The act became law on November 5, 1861. Upon failure of the Confederate cause these bonds became worthless. In addition, the Fourteenth amendment to the Federal Constitution forever invalidated these obligations. At the close of the Civil War the Missouri defense fund was exhausted. No provision was made for the payment of these claims until the year 1874, when the Missouri Legislature passed a law entitled "An act to audit and adjust the war debt of the State". By agreement with the Federal Government, claims were to be filed with and passed upon by the State, and then forwarded with proof to Washington. Upon proper proof, the Federal Government remitted to the State, and the State made settlement with the claimant. Later the Federal Government uncovered many irregularities and frauds in connection with claims, and refused to make further payments. This put an end to payment of Missouri war claims. c. 1960.

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Tertiary Object Term

Bond, War

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Bond

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Order, Pay

Nomenclature Class

Exchange Media

Nomenclature Category

Category 08: Communication Objects

LOC Thesaurus for Graphic Materials

Civil wars

Search Terms

Missouri Civil War Defense Bond, Civil War, Fourteenth Amendment, Civil War Defense Bond

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Maintenance

Maintenance History

Date

Apr 5, 2011

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

C.F. Jackson