CONGRESS, CONFEDERATE. 



155 



to this decision it is unnecessary now to speak. 

 It is sufficient to announce that by the judg- 

 ment of our constituents they have been pro- 

 nounced ample and sufficient. It is now a fixed 

 and irrevocable fact. The separation is perfect, 

 complete, and perpetual. 



" The great duty is now imposed upon us of 

 providing for these States a Government for 

 their future security and protection. We can 

 and should extend to our sister States our 

 late sister States who are identified with as 

 in interest, feeling, and institutions, a cordial 

 welcome to unite with us in a common destiny 

 desirous at the same time of maintaining 

 with our former confederates, as with the 

 world, the most peaceful and friendly relations, 

 both political and commercial. 



"Our responsibilities, gentlemen, are great, 

 and I doubt not we shall prove equal to the 

 occasion. Let us assume all the responsibility 

 which may be necessary for the successful com- 

 pletion of the great work committed to our 

 care, placing before our countrymen and the 

 world our acts and their results, as the justifi- 

 cation for the course we may pursue, and the 

 policy we may adopt. "With a consciousness 

 of the justice of our cause, and with confidence 

 in the guidance and blessings of a kind Provi- 

 dence, we will this day inaugurate for the 

 South a new era of peace, security, and pros- 

 perity." 



The rules of the Convention were drawn on 

 the principle that it was a Congress of sov- 

 ereign and independent States, and the mem- 

 bers should therefore vote by States. 



On the 7th of February, the Committee on a 

 Provisional Government reported a plan which 

 was discussed in secret session. On the 8th, 

 the Constitution of the United States was 

 adopted with some amendments, as follows : 



Alterations. 1st. The Provisional Constitution dif- 

 fers from the Constitution of the United States in 

 this : That the legislative powers of the Provisional 

 Government are vested in the Congress now assem- 

 bled, and this body exercises all the functions that 

 are exercised by either or both branches of the United 

 States Government. 



2d. The Provisional President holds his office for one 

 year, unless sooner superseded by the establishment 

 of a permanent government. 



3d. Each State is erected into a distinct judicial dis- 

 trict, the judge having all the powers heretofore vested 

 in the district and circuit courts ; and the several dis- 

 trict judges together compose the supreme bench a 

 majority of them constituting a quorum. 



4th. Wherever the word "Union" occurs in the 

 United States Constitution the word "Confederacy" 

 is substituted. 



Additions. 1st. The President may veto any sep- 

 arate appropriation without vetoing the whole bill in 

 which it is contained. 



2d. The African slave trade is prohibited. 



3d. Congress is empowered to prohibit the intro- 

 duction of slaves from any State not a member of this 

 Confederacy. 



4th. All appropriations must be upon the demand 

 of the President or heads of departments. 



Omissions. 1st. There is no prohibition against 

 members of Congress holding other offices of nonor 

 and emolument under the Provisional Government. 



2d. There is no provision for a neutral spot for the 



location of a seat of government, or for sites for forts, 

 arsenals, and dock-yards ; consequently there is no 

 reference made to the territorial powers of the Pro- 

 visional Government. 



3d. The section in the old Constitution in reference 

 to capitation and other direct tax is omitted ; also the 

 section providing that no tax or duty shall be laid on 

 any exports. 



4th. The prohibition against States keeping troops 

 or ships of war in time of peace is omitted. 



5th. The Constitution being provisional merely, no 

 provision is made for its ratification. 



Amendments. 1st. The fugitive slave clause of the 

 old Constitution is so amended as to contain the word 

 " slave," and to provide for full compensation in cases 

 of abduction or forcible rescue on the part of the 

 State in which such abduction or rescue may take place. 



2d. Congress, by a vote of two-thirds, may at any 

 time alter or amend the Constitution. 



Temporary Provisions. 1st. The Provisional Gov- 

 ernment is required to take immediate steps for the 

 settlement of all matters between the States forming 

 it and their late confederates of the United States 

 in relation to the public property and the public debt. 



2d. Montgomery is made the temporary seat of gov- 

 ernment. 



3d. This Constitution is to continue one year, unless 

 altered by a two-thirds vote or superseded by a per- 

 manent government. 



The tariff clause provided that " Congress 

 shall have power to lay and collect taxes, du- 

 ties, imposts, and excises for revenue necessary 

 to pay the debts and carry on the Government 

 of the Confederacy, and all duties, imposts, and 

 excises shall be uniform throughout the Con- 

 federacy." 



The first section of Article I. is as follows : 



"All legislative powers herein delegated shall be 

 vested in this Congress, now assembled, until otherwise 

 ordained." 



The fifth article is as follows : 



" The Congress, by a vote of two-thirds, may, at any 

 time, alter or amend this Constitution." 



The other portions of the Constitution are 

 nearly identical with the Constitution of the 

 United States. 



On the next day after the adoption of the 

 Provisional Constitution, at the opening of 

 Congress, the President of the body was sworn 

 by R. W. Walker to support the new Constitu- 

 tion, and the oath was then administered in 

 turn by the President to all the members, in 

 the order in which they were called by States. 



At a quarter past twelve o'clock in the after- 

 noon the Congress threw open its doors, after 

 having previously gone into secret session, and 

 proceeded to elect a President. The ballots 

 were taken by States, each State being allowed 

 one vote. On counting, it was found that Jef- 

 ferson Davis, of Mississippi, had received six 

 votes, the whole number cast. The same for- 

 mality was gone through in the election of 

 Vice-President, resulting likewise in the unani- 

 mous election of Alexander H. Stephens, of 

 Georgia. 



An immense crowd had gathered on the 

 floor and in the galleries to witness the elec- 

 tion of the first President of " the Confederate 

 States of America." The election of Davis and 



