July 19, 1820 . . . Missouri's First Constitution Signed
The signing of Missouri's first constitution took place July 19, 1820, in a small St. Louis hotel, the Mansion House, at the northeast corner of Third and Vine streets. This constitution at once superseded in sovereign authority the former organic laws of Missouri. Such territorial laws and officers as remained temporarily in force derived their legal power from the express sanction of this constitution. On the same day, David Barton, president of the constitutional convention, through power vested in him by that body, issued writs of election to the sheriffs of each county. These writs were of the first state election, to be held August 28, 1820, and were issued under authority of "the State of Missouri." Not until August 10, 1821, however, was Missouri finally admitted to the Union.
After a bitter debate involving the question of slavery, the United States Congress authorized Missouri to form a constitution March 6, 1820. The convention met June 12 and completed its work in a little more than five weeks.
The constitution of 1820 was then adopted by the convention and was never submitted to popular vote. The smallest of Missouri's three adopted constitutions, the document does not exceed ten thousand words, and the cost of making it amounted to only $8791.25.
The legislative work of the convention consisted of adopting certain provisions of the Enabling act for Missouri and drawing up a constitution. The instrument adopted was of a broad general nature rather than detailed. "The State of
Missouri" was described in the preamble as a "free and independent republic." The frame of government was provided for in twelve articles dealing with the distribution of powers, legislative power, executive power, judicial power, education, internal improvements, banks, militia, miscellaneous provisions, a permanent seat of government, mode of amending the constitution, and declaration of rights. There was also a schedule containing temporary provisions for facilitating the transfer from territorial to state government.
The government created by this constitution was strong partly because of the absence of restraint upon the methods and objects of legislation. It was typical of the period, although it occupied a somewhat advanced position in the matter of long terms for legislative members and officials, large salaries, and biennial legislative sessions instead of annual ones.
For primary source material on the first Missouri Constitution see: