Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1861-03-22
CONSTITUTION OF THE SOUTHERN CON.
FEDERACY

CONSTITUTION OF THE SOUTHERN CON
FEDERACY.
It's DISTINCTIVE FEATURES.
We published, yesterday, the Constitu-
t'on OF the Southern Conederacy. Time
and space did not permit simultaneous
comment on it. The Constitution, in its
general aspect, is American. 1t preserves
all the essential attributes Of American lib
erty, and makes decided Improvements by
providing against abuses which grew out ot
the Federal Constitution of 1881. The
progress of civilization is onward. Each
revolution advances its great march, end
makes new developments. The revolution
of l77G, the result of the great principles
of civil liberty derived from English histo-
ry and experience, developed the Constitu-
tlon of 81. The subsequent experience Of
the Southern people under the latter Con-
stituion, enables them to develop the Con.
stitution of 1861, which advances nearer to
perfection, by throwing off many of the
old imperfections. What changes the
progress of tie next century may require,
our descendants must judge. Human wis
dom is only competent for the exigencies
of the moment.
Foremost among the changes which
have taken place are those 10 reference to
the Presidential election and the distribu-
ton of the "spoils." The evils arising
from these. elections are, some of them, in
curable, and can only be tolerated bv
weighing the crater security to civil liberty
which we feel when conscious that
the term of office of our Chief Magistrate
is not perpetual, and that time, not bloody
revolution, may be safely trusted to remove
him when incompetent. One great evil,
under the Constitution of 1887, was the
re-eigibiity Of the President. He was no
sooner in office than he began TO admins
ter for tire succession. His office-holders.
removable if Ire was not re elected, became
his partlzans. While other aspiran;s, by
promises to the horde of clanorous Office
seekers, coon arrayed Themselves against
the Government, to defeat and disgrace it
by thwarting it even in measures of public
good it might undertake. This scramble.
on one side to retain and on the other to
possess the spoils, was one of the most de-
moralz;ug Of the old regime. This is, in a
great degree, removed, by eiectiug the Pres
adent for SIX years thusr ingtbe frequen-
cy'of the Presidentie' test; by making
him ineligible, thus removing from him
the temptation of the succession; by giving
him the power to remove civil officers of
the Executive department, when their SER
vices are unnecessary, or for udishouesty
ancapaclty, inefHciency, misconduct or neg.
sect OF duty" and requiring the reasons for
audh removals to be reported to the Senate.
thus checking, in great degree, the strug.
gle for spoils among the partisaus of the
respective aspirants. These changes con-
neeted with the Presidency, will, if they at
tam the results aimed at, prove the great
est improvements upon the order of things
under the old Government.
The provision that Congress may, by
law, grant to the principal officers in the
Executive Departments seat upcn the
floor Of either the Senate or House. with
the privilege of discussing measures apper.
taining to their respective departments ia
borrowed from the. English Parliamentary
custom, and will, we think, work we'll.
Another important provision is that 10
reference to the qualification of foreigners.
Under the Federal Constitution foreigners
are qualified by State laws to vote before
they are admitted to citizenship under the
Federal Government. This gives rise to
dissatisfaction, and: is the cause Of much
corruption in our large cities. To avoid
this, the Confederate Constitution provides
that mo person of foreign birth, not a cit.
'sen of the Confederate States, shall be
allowed to vote for any officer, civil or po-
litical, State or Federal"
A fruitful source of trouble, under the
old Government, wal. the power of the Go.
Vernment to embark in a systsm of inter
nal improvements This is explained by
limiting the facilities Congress may afford
connsroe, to furnishing lights and buoys.
and making Improvements in l,arbors. and
removing distinctions in rivor navigation
facilitated thereby be made to past the cost.
When any river divides or flows through
two or more States, they may enter into
compacts with each other to improve the
navigation thereof