The south-western., 1861-02-20
The Prnrrass of Events.

] - The Progress Of Events
Tsa.. pdt a casual glance, retrospective and pres
enty amply justify the assertion that live III a
evcntful age. Day after day the public press teen
with stirring events each successive one more monen
tous than the other until our appeites thus pampered
are not only prepared to receive but actually YEAR,
for something still more exciting. Events, which on
short year ago would have paralyzed rs with iiorro
are now hailed as worthy Of all emulation Tha
which but Yesterday was black, to-day is winter thar
the whitest The times call for it, and circumstance
Justify it-snch are the progress of events
While in the Get OF making these erentful strides
preparatory enly to others still eventful let
turn and view the ground we have passed over, as
whole. and see how We stand affected. The mind i
hardly prepared forthe great change which has taker
place viewed in this light, at the first glance oneb1
one seven sovereign States have thrown off the YOKE
which bound them to aselfshna and procainee
to the world their rightfu freedom and independence
Actuated by the first principle implanted in the bosom
of man, they have, through their respective conYcn
tons, inaugurated provisionafcdera government
at Montgomery, il every respect compatible with the
exgencics of the times At the head of this govern
ment we find the honorable Jefferson Davis who il
times past has served his country both in the field and
council chamber, with patriotic devotion and marked
ability We think the young confederacy truly fortunate
in placing at their head gentleman 50 emnently quail
flied discharge the duties Of executive with credit
to himself ana satisfaction to his constituents The
secondin position is the honorable Alexander II. Steph
ems of Georgia, gentleman well known for his emf
nent abilities a. a statesman and orator Up to this
time but few Of the proceedings have been made public
yetwhat We have seen leads the belief that Wig
orous government is az work. The adoption Of the
old federal constitution, with such alterations certain
points as to do away with anything like an ambiguous
construction giving ote clear and distinct phraseol-
ocv in accordance with the Interpretation heretofore
given by southern statesmen, il peculiarly gratifying
It strikes adcath blow to that pet institution Of the
north protective tariff, by designating that congress
shall collect taxes and levy duties mposts and excises
for only what revenue is necessary to pay the debts
and carry on the government of rhe confederacy.-
The two clauses in the old constitution relating to the
duty or tax laid on articles exported from any State
have been omitted in the new one
The veto power is still in vogue with the very i'm
porant addition Of giving the president power to veto
appropriation ana approve another in the same
bill This will be- the means Of removing a great
source Of corrupt legislation by allowing the president
to disapprove all tLatis dishonest and inproperir a
bill, where some parts the passage Of which, ex-
tremeIy necessary
The African slave trade i more efectually laid on
the shelf BY the Montgomery constitution than By the
old one. 1t is as follows
a. The importation Of African negroes from any
foreign country other than the savehodng States Of
the United States is hereby forbidden; and congress
is required to pass such laws ns shall eectualy pre-
vent the same
"2 The congress shall also have the power to pro
hibit the introduction Of slaves from any State not
member of the confederacr"
The word slave has been introduced in the place Of
persons held to service d in the old constitution
These are pretty much all the naterial alterations,
which will he likely to be cngrafei into the perma-
nent confedcracg upon which the people win have an
opportunity Of expressing an opinion through the bal
lot box
The members Of the southern congress have an ardous
task before them In addition osetRg in motion the
intricate maehineryof aproysiona federative govern
mcnt they have an interest in the succession of Uncle
Sam, deceased, to look after unonthe management of
which, immediate prosperity depends in a great
measure. 1t stands in hendthcn, TO throw obsta-
ecs in their way, but like good aw-abding citizens
obey their mandates with ulacrty and in good faith.