New Orleans daily crescent., 1861-03-16
TlER Na,v CONSTITUTION.


made to the Constitution Of the Confederate States
adopted by the Southern Congress now in session
at Montgomery. In the main it is but . copy Of
the Constitution of the old Union with a few addi
tons and changes, every one Of which is, we
think, an Improvement.
The preamble differs from tho preamble Of the
Constitution Of the United States in respect OF Its
assertion of the doctrine of State sovereignty
Z" Each State acting in its sovereign and independ-
emit charaeter'' is the language used, thus giving
Constitutional sanction to doctrine, tue denial of
which by the North was the source of much trouble
and confusion in the old Union The preamble
also recognizes our dependence upon Supreme
Being, which is something not found in the Consti-
tuition of the United States.
The Legislative Department of The Government
is organized just as that of the Union was. The
right of suffrage, however, is confined TO citizens
alone. In some of the Northern States they per-
NIT men to vote before they acquire citizenship
most monstrous abuse, and one which our new
Constitution wisely forbids. The ratio of represent
alton in the lower House of Congress is fixed at
not less than fifty thousand, and the three-tfths
provision in regard to slaves is retained. Until
otherwise ordered, Louisiana is to have six Repre-:
aentatiyes, South Carolina six, Georgia ten, Ala.
bama nine, Florida two, Mississippi seven, and
Texas six.
The powers and duties of Congress are fully
defined. In cases where several appropriations
are embraced in one bill, the President is to have
| the right to veto any particular appropriations
and approve the others. This is a good provision
1t will break up the ogrolling system, whereby
appropriations for unworthy objects were Snug.
nfr
that were obliged to be passed. This will prevent
anything like the fraud and stealage that prevailed
in the old Union
Congress is forbidden to grant bounties. No
special legislation no fayortism to classes or any
particular interests. This is good. We will have
no swindling fishing bounties and navigation
monopoes.
Then the Post-office is to be self-sustaining.
This is good again. It will prevent the squander-
ing Of the public money in all sorts Of postal con
tracts, thus making the general treasury pay for
the accommodation of mere local and particular
interests.
The African slaye-trade is forbidden, but the i'm
portaton of slaves from States not members Of the
Confederacy is permitted, Congress, however, be-
ing granted the power to prohibit it at discretion
No extra compensation to any contractor shall
be granted. This is excellent. The Congress OF
the Union is bothered and badgered, every winter
with an innumerabfe caravan of contractors and
old ofice-holders begging for extra pay. The
members are hutton-holed and annoyed by them,
past endurance-and many of these claims slip
through and are paid, when there is not shadow
Of justice in them. ~
The President is to be elected for six years, and
Ia to be ineligible Six years is short enough, and
his being ineligible will prevent him from dispos-
ing Of his patronage, or otherwise using his power,
to retain himsefin the office. No person shall be
eligible to the Office of President or Vice President
except natural born citizen of the Confederate
States, or citizen at the time of the adoption of
the Constitution, or a citizen born in the United
States prior to 10th December, 1860. A residence
of fourteen years in the Confederate States, as
they may exist at the time of the election is also
necessary The duties of the President, and the
organization Of the Executive Departments, are
about the same as in the Government at Washing
ton
The Judicial power is to be invested in Supreme
may establish, just as in the Northern Union
The right Of transit and sojourn with ones slaves,
in any State or Territory, is affirmed and secured
the Territories slavery is to be "recognized and
proteoted.n The trainers Of the present Constitu-
ton are not so mealy-mouthed as our forefathers,
and boldly use the words slaves" and slavery, .
which was carefully excluded, for political reasons,
from the Constitution of 'S7.
Other States may be admitted bya vote of two
thirds of the whole House of Representatives, and
tWothirds the Senate, the latter voting by States
The Constitution provides for its own amendment,
any three States having the power to call Con-
vention for that purpose. The present Constitu
ton is to be considered in force, and the Govern
ment established, when ratified by five States, as to
the States SO ratifying it. Alabama has led the
column, being the first State to ratfy.
On the whole, everybody-at least every South
ern man-must admit that the Constitution is es-
sentially a good one, and vast Improvement upon
the Constitution Of the Northern Union. If there
be some objections to it here and there, patriotism
requires thatthey be surrendered rather than OBJ
struet the Government in the beginning of its ex-
istence. We trust Louisiana will retain and
strengthen the good impression she has already
made at Montgomery by promptly ratifying the
Constitution by a unanimous vote of her Conven-
ton.
mr.