Four months earlier the group had met to take a stand for compromise and conciliation, but now the chairman was gone, fighting against the government. The state was on the brink of anarchy.
In the past four months, Missouri had gone from a state teetering on the edge of joining the Civil War to a state firmly in the middle of it. Strong actions were needed. Now was the time for the Convention of 99 to act – to take steps to keep Missouri as stable as possible for the months ahead.

AOWM – July 22