The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-03-29


gazetted as Secretary of Legation at Bel
GUM, the Office to which @. G.. RIPLEY was
appointed.
The Constitution Of the Confeder ated
States.
We have received copy of the Consti-
tuition of the Confederate States, adopted
by the Montgomery convention, and since
ratified by Louisiana and Alabama.
The clauses of the Constitution affecting
the interests of African slavery, are the
most noteworthy, the non.ful6llment Of
their constitutional duties, by the Northern
States, in this respect, being the. alleged
cause of secession. In the Montgomery
Constitution, the provisions relating to the
" institution" are relieved from all ambi.
guilty; it reads, in speaking of persons held
to SERVICE" slaves and other property"
and slave or other person held to service"
Every bolt and bar is provided to render
the peculiar institution secure against legal
assault. The right of transit with slaves as
property is not to be impaired. In all new
territory to be acquired " slavery, as it now
exists in the Confederate States, shall be
recognized and protected both by Congress
and the territorial government" The
three-ffths' slave representation is retained,
and the importation of negroes Of the Af
r,can race from any foreign country other
than the slaveholding States or Territories
of America, is hereby prohibited )" and
Congress is required to pass such laws as
shall effectually prevent the same. Congress
is also authorized to pass laws to prohibit
the introduction of slaves from the States
not belonging to the Confederacy. This
holds whip over the nonseceding slave.
holding States. Congress is prohibited
from passing any law, impairing the right
of property in negro slaves"
Although the Constitution is declared to
be "the supreme law of the land" yet the
right of secession would seem to be guaran-
teed, by the phraseology of the preamble,
which reads, "We, the people of the Conted.
crate States, each State acting in its soccer.
eiyn and independent character, in order to
form permanent federal government" &C.
1t is rather singular fact, that while in no
part of the Constitution of the United
States, is the existence of the Deity &C.
knowledged, the seceders in their preamble,
"invoke the favor and guidance of AL.
mighty God.'
The right of suffrage is restricted to cit
liens of the Confederate States. This is
designed to prevent such legislation as, in
most of the Western States, has permitted
foreigners, on declaration of their inten-
ton to become citizens, to vote for State
and Federal officers. For instance: for
eigner, a resident of the United States for
one year, can vote for President in Mime
sofa, while in New England and the Middle
States, he is required to complete resi-
dence of five years before enjoying that priv
ilege. In Massachusetts, seven years resi-
dence is required before the foreigner is
allowed to vote.
We have heretofore referred to the pro.
vision of the Constitution giving Cabinet
officers seat on the floor of either House,
with the privilege of discussing measures
connected with their respective depart
ments, and to the wise and salutary restric-
ton to prevent reckless appropriations of
money, and the wholesome checks put upon
the Executive power in requiring the rea-
sons to be reported to the Senate for the
removal Of all subordinate officers, as also
in providing that mo person rejected by
the Senate shall be re-appointed to the
same Office during their ensuing recess"
The free trade theory shows itself fully on
the subject of taxation. No duties are to
be imposed for the purpose of fostering any
branch of industry, nor can bounties be
granted from the treasury. Any expendi-
lures for improving navigation on coasts,
harbors or rivers, are to be met by duties
levied on the commerce to be facilitated
thereby. The Post Office Department is to
be made self-sustaining after 1863, and the
term OF Office for which the President and
Vice President shall serve, is heightened
from four to six years, the former officer not
being re-eligible. New States, either slave
or free, may be admitted by two-third
vote of the House and Senate-the latter