CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF MISSOUR
1820 · Washington
by [Missouri]
Washington: Printed by Gales & Seato, 1820. 25pp. Dbd. Lightly tanned. Very good. Dated "November 16, 1820. Read, and referred to a select committee." This is the U.S. House printing of the document, following a Senate printing of November 14. Representatives of the various counties of Missouri Territory gathered in St. Louis on June 12, 1820 to draft a constitution and to establish Missouri as a state. They completed and agreed to the constitution on July 19, 1820, and sent it to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives for their consideration. The constitution lays out the boundaries of the proposed state, as well as the powers of the legislature, executive, and judiciary. The section on the legislative branch spells out that body's responsibilities regarding blacks and slavery, stating: "It shall be their duty, as soon as may be, to pass such laws as may be necessary, First, To prevent free negroes and mulattoes from coming to, and settling in, this state, under any pretext whatsoever." It also addresses questions of internal improvements, education, a militia, and banking.
An early printing of the Missouri constitution. OCLC locates only nine copies of this printing. Scarce. SHAW & SHOEMAKER 3637. OCLC 15147104 (Inventory #: WRCAM30594)
An early printing of the Missouri constitution. OCLC locates only nine copies of this printing. Scarce. SHAW & SHOEMAKER 3637. OCLC 15147104 (Inventory #: WRCAM30594)