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admirable in respect to its provisions for public instruction, and was conceded to be so by its bitterest enemies.

The constitution was adopted April 8, and two days afterward the convention adjourned sine die.

An election had been appointed for the 6th of June, 1865, to submit the new constitution to the people for their indorsement or rejection, but it had also been provided that no person should vote at that election, except those who would be qualified as voters under the second article thereof. The canvass which followed was naturally one of the greatest bitterness.

Although the war was nominally over, and all the strongholds of the Rebellion were in the hands of the United States authorities, yet there were fragmentary guerrilla bands still roaming through various sections of the country, and the war spirit continued in undiminished force. Multitudes of taxpayers in the State, not a few of whom were honored and influential citizens, and had been noncombatants during the war, were disfranchised by the third section, and denied the privilege of voting upon the adoption or rejection of the code of laws which was to govern them and their children. On the other hand it was maintained with vigor that citizens who had attempted to destroy their Government, who had committed treason either by open deeds of rebellion, or by encouragement, sympathy and aid given to those in rebellion, had forfeited all right to assist in conducting the affairs of State. The election resulted in a majority of 1,862 for the constitution, which accordingly went into effect July 4, 1865.

• The next General Assembly which convened at Jefferson City, on November 1, proceeded to enact a registry law, which, on account of its stringency, occasioned much violence and disorder in its enforcement. The "Ousting Ordinance," for vacating certain civil offices, was also attended with unpleasant results. That portion of the ninth section in regard to ministers, lawyers and teachers excited so much trouble in the State that B. Gratz Brown, Carl Schurz and other leading Republicans set on foot December, 1866, a movement which had for its object universal amnesty and enfranchisement. The movement soon became popular throughout the State, and, in his message to the Twenty

Fourth General Assembly, January, 1867, Gov. Fletcher recommended an amendment to the constitution, striking out the ninth section of the second article. At this session of the Legislature a constitutional amendment was submitted to the people proposing to strike the word "white" from the eighteenth section of the second article, and thus inaugurate negro suffrage in Missouri. While this amendment was under consideration in the House, Mr. Orrick of St. Charles proposed to strike out not only the word "white" but also the word "male." This effort in behalf of female suffrage was rejected; and at the election of the people in November, 1868, negro suffrage was also defeated by a majority of 18,817 votes.

The adjourned session of the Twenty-fifth General Assembly, which met on January 5, 1870, accomplished important work in several directions.

Gov. Joseph W. McClurg recommended in his message the ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment to the constitution of the United States, passed by Congress on February 27, 1869, and transmitted to the General Assembly at the same time a copy of the amendment as follows:

ARTICLE XV.

SECTION 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color or previous condition of servitude.

SEC. 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Immediately upon the reading of the amendment, a joint resolution ratifying it was introduced into the Senate, and was speedily adopted by both Houses of the Legislature.

DIVISIONS IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

The differences of opinion regarding universal amnesty and enfranchisement were rapidly assuming the proportions of discord and disintegration; and the Republican party in the State became divided in sentiment as well as in name, being known respectively as Radicals and Liberals; the former maintaining a severe, and the latter a more magnanimous policy toward those who had complicity with the Rebellion. The Democrats, owing to the stringent registry laws, were in a hopeless minority, and

so attached themselves to the Liberal Republicans, believing that by this course they might best aid their disfranchised brethren, and eventually gain control of State politics. The State Nominating Convention, which met at Jefferson City on August 31, 1870, witnessed the final division of the Republicans. The platforms of the two branches of the party, differed chiefly in regard to enfranchisement, and the articles embodying their respective sentiments were as follows:

MAJORITY OR LIBERAL PLATFORM.

Fourth. That the time has come when the requirements of public safety, upon which alone the disfranchisement of a large number of citizens could be justified, has clearly ceased to exist, and this convention, therefore, true to the solemn pledges recorded in our National and State platforms, declares itself unequivocally in favor of the adoption of the constitutional amendments.commonly called the suffrage and office-holding amendments, believing that under existing circumstances the removal of political disabilities, as well as the extension of equal political rights and privileges to all classes of citizens, without distinctions, is demanded by every consideration of, good faith, patriotism and sound policy, and essential to the integrity of Republican institutions, to the welfare of the State, and to the honor and preservation of the Republican party.

MINORITY OR RADICAL PLATFORM.

Third. That we are in favor of re-enfranchising those justly disfranchised for participation in the late Rebellion, as soon as it can be done with safety to the State, and that we concur in the propriety of the Legislature having submitted to the whole people of the State the question, whether such time has now arrived; upon which question we recognize the right of any member of the party to vote his honest convictions.

The two reports being before the convention, the report of the minority was adopted, whereupon about 250 delegates, friends of the majority report, led by Mr. Schurz, withdrew, organized a separate convention, and nominated a full State ticket, with B. Gratz Brown as a candidate for Governor. The other convention also nominated a full ticket, headed by Joseph W. McClurg for Governor, at that time incumbent of the office.

The election of November, 1870, resulted in the choice of the B. Gratz Brown ticket by a majority of over 40,000 Liberal and Democratic votes. This election marks the period at which the Republicans, who had been for eight years in the ascendency, surrendered the power which they have since been unable to regain.

THE MURDERS AT GUN CITY.

During the administration of Gov. Brown, a bloody infraction of the public peace occurred at Gun City, a small station on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad, in Cass County.

Judge J. C. Stevenson was one of the judges of the late county court of Cass County, that had made a fraudulent issue of bonds in the name of the county, thereby imposing heavy burdens upon the taxpayers. James C. Cline was county attorney, and was implicated in the swindle, and Thomas E. Detro was one of Cline's bondsmen. Both Stevenson and Cline had been indicted, and were under heavy bonds to answer for the offense with which they were charged. All of these men, together with Gen. Jo. Shelby, were on the eastern bound train which reached Gun City on Wednesday, April 24, 1872. At this place logs, rails and rocks were found piled upon the track, and seventy or eighty masked and armed men compelled the engineer and fireman to leave the locomotive, and then commenced a terrible fusilade into and around the captured train. Loud cries were made for Cline, who stepped out on the platform, and was instantly riddled with bullets. The murderers then rushed through the train calling for the "bond robbers." They shot Judge Stevenson down in the car, and afterward dragged him out on the grass. Mr. Detro they found in the mail car, and, after severely wounding him, threw him on the roadside, where he was allowed to bleed to death. The gang then called for Gen. Jo. Shelby, but his intrepidity saved him, as he coolly kept his seat, replying, "Here I am; if you want me come and get me."

Gov. Brown at once took measures to bring the murderers to justice, but they were never discovered. No further disturbance occurred, however.

AMENDMENTS TO THE STATE CONSTITUTION.

At an adjourned session of the Twenty-sixth General Assembly, which convened December 6, 1871, two constitutional amendments had been submitted to the votes of the people.

These were ratified at the November election in 1872. The first increased the number of supreme court judges from three

to five, fixing their term of office at ten years, and providing that two additional judges should be elected at the general election in 1872, and one judge at each general election, every two years thereafter.

The second provided that no part of the public school fund should ever be invested in the stock or bonds or other obligations of any other State, or of any county, city, town or corporation; that the stock of the bank of the State of Missouri, held for school purposes, and all other stocks belonging to any school or university fund, should be sold in such manner and at such time as the General Assembly should prescribe; and the proceeds thereof, and the proceeds of the sales of any lands or other property which belonged or might hereafter belong to said school fund, should be invested in the bonds of the State of Missouri, or of the United States, and that all county school funds should be loaned upon good and sufficient and unincumbered real estate security, with personal security in addition thereto.

REVISION OF THE STATE CONSTITUTION.

During an adjourned session of the Legislature, which met on January 7, 1874, a law had been passed authorizing a vote of the people to be taken at the general election in November, 1874, for and against calling a convention to revise and amend the constitution of the State. This convention was agreed to by a majority of only 283. An election for delegates took place on January 26, 1875. On May 5 of the same year the convention assembled at the Capitol. It consisted of sixty-eight members, sixty of whom were Democrats, six Republicans, and two Liberals. A thorough revision of the entire organic law was made, both in committee and in convention. Every department of the State Government passed under review, and many important changes were made, which can not be discussed here, but they are familiar to every well-informed citizen of the State.

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The bill of rights occasioned much discussion. resentation, which has been a feature of every State constitution, including the first, was still maintained in spite of opposition. Carefully prepared and stringent limitations on the powers of the General Assembly were engrafted on the new instrument.