The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-05-17


engrossed, and unanimously adopted.
HOWELL Conn, President of Congress.
j. j. HOOPER, Secretary.
We, the Deputies of the Sovereign and
Independent States of South Carolina
Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi
and Louisiana, invoking the favor of AL
mighty God, do hereby, in behalf of these
States, ordan and establish this Constitu-
ton for the Provisional Government Of the
same; to continue one year from the in
auguration of the President or until
permanent Constitution or Confederation
between the said States shall be put IN
operation, Whatsoever shall first occur.
ARTICLE I.
Section |.
All legislative powers herein delegated
shall be vested in this Congress now as
sembled, until otherwise ordained.
Section q.
When vacancies happen in the repre-
sentation from any State, the same shall
be filed in such manner as the proper au-
thorities Of the State shall direct.
Section 3.
|. The Congress shall be the Judge of
the elections, returns, and qualifications
of its members; any number of Deputies
from majority of the States, being pres
ent, shall constitute quorum to do busi-
ness; but q smaller number may adjourn
from day to day, and may be authorised
to compel the attendance of absent
members; upon all questions before the
Congress, each State shall be entitled to
one vote, and shall be represented by any
one or more of its Deputies who may be
present.
2. The Congress may determine the
rules Of its proceedings, punish its mem
bers for disorderly behavior, and, with
the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a
member.
3. The Congress shall keep journal of
its proceedings, and from time to time
publish the same, excepting such parts as
may in their judgment require secrecy
and the yeas and nays of the members on
any question, shall, at the desire Of one
fifth of those present, or at the instance
ofany State, be entered on the journal.
Section 4.
The members of Congress shall receive
compensation for their services, to be
ascertained by law, and paid out of the
Treasury of the Confederacy. They shall,
in all cases, except treason, felony and
breach of the peace. be privileged from
arrest during their attendance at the ses-
sion of the Congress, and in going to and
returning from the same and for any
speech, or debate, they shall not be ques-
toned in any other place.
Section 5.
/. Evcry bill wich shall hove paagod the
| hall l>,t,,,o . l.,
be presented to the President of the Con
federacy; if he approve, he shall sign it.
but if not, he shall return it. with his OBJ
jections, to the Congress, who shall enter
the objections at large on their journal
and proceed to reconsider it. II, after
such reconsideration, two-thirds of the
Congress shall agree to pass the BILL II
shall become law. But in all such cases
the vote shall be determined by yeas and
nays; and the names of the persons vot
ing for and against the bill shall be enter
ed on the journal. II any bill shall not
bo returned by the President within ten
days Sundays exccpted) after it shal
have been presented to him, the same
shall be a law, in like manner as if he
had signed it, unless the Congress, by
their adjournment, prevent its return, in
which case it shall not be law. The Pres
ident may veto any appropriation or ap
propriations, and approve any other ap
preparation or appropriations, in the same
bill.
9. Every order, resolution or vote, in
tended to have the force and effect of {
law, shall be presented to the President
and before the same shall take effect
shall be approved by him, or being disap
proved by him, shall be rc-passed by two
thirds the Congress, according to the rule
and limitations prescribed in the case o
bill.
B. Until the Inauguration of the Presi
dent, all bills, orders, resolutions anc
votes adopted by the Congress, shall be 0
full force without approval by him.
Section 6.
|. The Congress shall have power TO la,
and collect taxes, duties, imposts and ex
cises, for the revenue necessary to pa,
the debts and carry on tho Governmen
of the Confederacy; and all duties, i'm
posts and eXcises shall be uniform through
out the States of the Confederacy. Anc
this Congress shall also exercise executiv,
powers, until the President is inaugural
ed:
2. To borrow money on the credit o
the Confederacy:
3. To regulate commerce with foreigr
nations, and among the several States
and with the Indian tribes:
4. To establish uniform rule of natur
alization, and uniform laws on the sub
ject Of bankruptcies throughout the Con
iederacy:
5. To coin money, regulate the value
thereof, and of foreign coin, and fix tn
standard Of weights. and measures:
6. To provide fof the punishment o
counterfeiting the securities and curren
coin of the Confederacy
I. To establish post Offices and pos
roads:
8. To promote the progress of scienc
and useful arts, by securing, for Limited
times, to authors and inventors, the eX
elusive right to their respective writing
and discoveries:
8. TO constitute tribunals inferior to tn
Supreme Court:
10. TO define and punish piracies anc
felonies committed on the high seas, ant
ofienses against the law of nations:
IL. To declare war, grant letters O
marque and reprisal, and make rules con
cernmg captures on land and water:
II. TO raise and support armies; bu
no appoprlatloh oi iiohty 10 lhat us
shall be for a longer term than two years
l3. To provide and maintain navy:
IA. To make rules for the goyernmen
and regulation of the land and naval for
ces:
Is. To provide for calling forth the mi
ltia to execute the laws of the Confedera
cy, suppress instructions, and repel in
vasions;
J l6. TO provide for organizing, and dis
ciplining the militia, and for governin
such part of them as may be employed il
the service of tho Confederacy, reservin
} to the States respectively the appoint
mcnt of the officers, and the authority c