Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-06-20
The Virginia State Convention.
SECOND SESSION.
FOURTH DAY

WIS, OF ulOSlOn W hts s
special order for to day at - o'clock
We publish the Constitution in order that
it NAV bu the better understood.
CONSTITUTION FOR THE
pyoyIsroSAL GOVERNMENT OF THE
Confederate States II Amertca.
We, the Deputies of The Sovereign and ln-
dependent States Of South Carolina, Georgia,
Florida. Alabama, Mississippi, and L9uisianu,
invoking the favor Of Almighty God, do hers
by. in behalf Of these States, ordain and estab'
l,sh this Constitution for the Provisional Gov
eromcn, of The anne to continue one year
from the inauguration Of the President, or no.
III q permanent Constitution or Confederation
between the said States shall ba put in opera
ton. yhicisoeTer shall first occur.
ARTICLE !.
SECTION /.
All legislative powers herein delegated shall
he vested in this Congress neW assembled,
until otherwise ordained.
SECTION, 2.
When vacancies happen in the representa-
lion from any State, the same shall! be hlled
in such q manner as tue proper authorities Of
The State shall direct.
SECTION 3.
l. The Congress shall be tho judge OF the
elections, returns and qualifications Of its
members; any number Of Deputies from q ma
i,rity of The States, being present. shall con
stitutc y quorum to do business; but d smaller
number may adjourn from dag 10 day, and may
be au,hor:x d to compel the attendance Of alb
sent members; upon all questions before tho
Congress, each Stale shall DO entitled to one
- AL .A,J1 -. tnH he n nnn or
more of its Dspu:ie, vino may be present
9 The Congress may dcscrmll e the rules Of
its proceedings, punish lis members for dIsor
dclly behavior, and, with tho concurreacs o.
twothirds. cxpel 4 member.
3. The Congress shall keep journal of its
proceedings, aud from lime to tme publish the
same, excepting such parts as may in their
judgment require secrecy and tne yeas and
nays of the members On any QUESTION, shall, 81
the desire Of one fifth Of those present, OF Of
the instance OF any one State, be entered on
tie i,urnaL.
SECTION +.
The members Of Congress shall receive Q
compensation for their services. to be asce!
tanned by law, and paid out Of the treasury o
the Coniederaey. They shall in all. cascs, ex
cept treason, felony and breach Of the peace,
be privileged from arrest during their atten
dance at the session Of The Congress, ard IL
going to and returning from the SAME; and iof
any speech or debate, they sbal! rot &c queS
toned in any other place.
SECTION 5.
!. Every bill which shall haee passed the
Congress shall, before it become 4 law, bs
presented to the President OF the Coafederacy,
If he approve, be shall sig1 l.; but il not, he
shall return it with his objections, to the Con
gress, who shall enter The objections at large
on their journal, and proceed le reconsider it
II, after such reconsideration. two.thirds o
the Congress shall agree to pass the bill, II
shall become n law. But in allsuch cases, the
vote shall be determined by yeas and nays
and the names OF the persons voting fol
and against the bill shall be entered or
The journal. II any bill shall not bt
returned By the President within ten day:
Sundays cxcepted) after it shall have beer
presented to INN, the same s!iSll be a law, "
like manner as !! he had signed it, unless thu
Congress, By their adjournment. prevent Il:
return, in which case it shall not De a la%.-
The President may veto any appropriation Of
appropriations and approve al! other appro
p~riatinn or appropriations, in the same bill.
9. Every orcer, resolution or vote intended
to have the force and ETC. Of 4 Law, shall bi
presented 10 Tie President, and t,forc the SAINT
Shall take eject. shall be approved BY him, OF
being disappeared By him, shalt be re. pnssec
by two thirds Gf the Congress, according to The
rules snt limitations pfrscr:bud in the case O
a BIZ.
3. Until the iuauSuration OF the President
al! bills, orders, resolutions and 7ctes adopted
Ly the Congress Shall be Of full :orce without
approval o. him.
SECTION c.
l. The Congress shall bare power 20 lay and
cn,irct taxes, duties, iulposts ard excuses, f3i
the revenue necessary to pay the debts anc
carry on the Government! O! the Confcdcracy
and nil duties. imposts and excuses shall BE-
uniform throughout the States OF the Coniede'
recy. And this Congress shall! also exercise
executive powers, Until the Presidcas is in
ausurated: =,
3. To borrow money on the credit Of The
Cunfrderacy
8. 70 regulate with foreign ma
tions, and among the several States, and With
the Indian tribes:
4 To establish a uniform role OF natural
z.t;rn, and uniform Lass on the SUBJECT o.
bankruptcies throughout the Confedcracy:
8. TO coin money, regulate the value there
Of and Of foreign com, and tx the standard Of
weights and measures:
6. To provide 70: the punishment Of couE-
tcrieit;ng the securities and current coin Of the
Conftderacy
:. TO establish post Offices and post roads
s. TO promote The progress Of science and
~ -. L. e,orn, ENr 1;rrifan tifnpc r.
authors aid invtnturs. the exclusive right &c
their respective writings and discoveries:
9. To constitute Tribunals inferior to tue Su
premc Court:
10. To d:6ne and punish piracies and fslo
MES committed on the high seas. and offences
against the law of nations:
II. TO declare war, grant letters OF rnarqu'
and r~epri,al. and make rules concern!ng cap
lures on land and water:
i2 To raise ard support arnics; but ne
appropriation cf money to that use shall be tol
u longer term than two years:
ls. To provide and maintain a navy:
il. To make rules for the government ans
regulation OF the lind and naval forces:
IL. 10 provide for calling forth tEe militia
to execute Inc laws Of the Confederacy, sup
press instructions, and repel inyaSions
10. To provide for organizing, armins, ane
disciylining the militia, and for g~oyerait g such
part Of them as may ne employed in the ser
vice Of the Confsderacy, reser7ing 10 the StnteE
respectively The appointment Of the officers
and the authority OF training The militia accord
ing to the discipline prescribed BY Congress
and
II. To make all laws which shall be neces
sary and proper for carrying into execution
the foregoing powers and nil other powers ex
pressly de!egated by this Constitution to this
Provisional Government.
SECTION :.
/. The importation Of African negroes from
any foreign country other than the slave.
holding States Of The United States, is hereby
forbidden; and Congress lis required to pass
such laws rs shall effsctually prevent the same.
Q. The Congress- shall also have power h
prohibit the introduction Of slaves from any
State not a member Of this Confederacy.
8. The privilege Of the writ Of Uabeas
Corpus shall not be suspended unless, when in
cases OF reht llion CT invasion, the public safety