Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-02-13

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SIXTH DAY.

SIXTH DAY.
MONTGOMERY, ALA, Feb. Q, 1861.
Congress met this morning at IL o'clock Prayer
was offered by Rev. Or. Basil Manly.
The Chief Justice of the State of Alabama then
administered the following oath to the Hon. Howell
Cobb, President:
You do solemniy swear that you will support
the Constitution for the Provisional Government Of
the Confederate States of America"
The President. ] will now proceed to admins
ter the oath of Office to the members Of the Con-
Mr.. Memminger. respectfully suggest that in
the administration Of the oath, each member shall
rise.
The President then administered the above oath
TO all the deputies, by Gtates &
The President The first business is the call of
States for the presentation of memorials other
matter.
Mr.. Memmnger-I conceive, Mr.. President, this a
fitting occasion to discharge a commission which
has been entrusted 10 me by some of my eoustitu-
ency Of South Caft1lina. / have before me flag
which some of the soung ladies of South Carolina
present to this Cens' model flag for the Con-
federdte States of .enerica This flag as it will be
seen upon inspectioT embraces the idea of cross
blue cross on req field.
Now, Mr.. Presi9est, the idea of cross no doubt
was suggested to %e inauguration of the young
ladies by the bseute constellation of the Southern
Cross, which the treat Creator has placed in the
Southern Heavens ny way of compensation for the
agination of the goug ladies doubtless inspired
by the genius Of Dante and the scientific skill of
Humboldt But sir have no doubt, that there was
another idea associated with it in the minds of the
young ladIes-a religious one-and although we
have not seen, in the Heavens the IN hoe siqno
vinciS," written upon the Laburnum of Constantine
yet the sign has been manifested to us upon the
tablets of the EARTH for all know that it has been
by the aid of revealed religion that we have achev-
ed over fanaticism the victory which We this day
= = IL 49,
debt of the South to the should be thus
nzed.
have also, Mr. President, another commission
from gentleman of taste and skill in the city of
Charleston, who offers another model, which en-
braces the same IDEA of cross, upon a different
ground The gentleman who offers this model APP
pears to be more hopeful than the young ladies'
They offer with stars, six for the States
already represented in Congress, and the seventh
for Texas, whose deputies we hope will soon be on
their way to join MS. He offers a flag which EN-
braces the whole fifteen States God grant that this
hope may be re&iized, and that we may soon well
come their &c glorious constellation of our
Southern Confederacy. (Applause.)
Mr.. Miles-I move that a Committee of one from
each State be appointed to report upon flag for the
Confederate States # America. Of course, Mr..
President, the moFi is to raise committee to Sc
lect flag for these States and not to take action
the one which HIS esen presented Adopted.
The President fie chair understands that no &C.
ton will be taken present, in relation to the flag
which has been g Sented
Mr.. Stephens ggest that the States be called,
and the deputie' tSlect the member for the CON-
mittee Is
The States weyr 4 alled and the following COM
mittee anE &sced: Messrs. Shorter, of Ala,
Morton, of Fla, tow, Of Ga, Sparrow, of La,
Harris. of Miss. Us, of S. c.
Mr.. Stephens sNi5mit the followinw resolution
ReSolUed. Tha!..G,e President appoint the follow
ing committees insist of five members each, TO
wit: A Commits %s5n Foreign Affairs on Finance,
on Military and z Gal Affairs, on the Judiciary on
Postal Affairs q .Ss,ccounts, on ENDORSEMENTS, on
Patents and als3 SS committee on Printing Adopted.
On motion o.4J ~ Crawford, the Congress then
went into secreJ1xsion
After remainsl$a secret session for about half
an hour, the doE Tyere opened, and Congress pro
ceeded to the .S.9;sn of President and Vice
President of thSyEifederate States of America un-
der the provisidk ~ government.
The election E%lted unanimously for Jefferson
Davis of Miss, fss President, and A. II. Stephens,
of Ga, for Vice. ssident
The announccH ct of the election was followed
by warm demon III ttions of applause.
Mr.. Toombs nAA.d that a committee of three be
! appointed to nEsn the Hon. Jefferson Davis, of
Miss. of his elet u. Adopted
Messrs. Toomsl &@ahett and Morton were appoint
ed as the commit E.
Mr. Perkins N ed that committee of three be
appointed to inf6e Hon. A II. Stephens, of Ga, OF
his election. Aetssed
Messrs Perk fs Harris and Shorter were ap-
pointed. IL
Mr.. Rhett me}ssl that Congress go into secre;
session ~
During the seiaX session the following business
was transacted, 5Sn which the seeresy was removed
before ADJOURN "a.
Mr. T. K. R. C's8 offered the following resolutions
which were ado7fx1.
RESOLVED, THAI committee of three be appointed
from the membef f this Congress, representing the
State of Alabam:s which shall inquire and report TO
this body upon Mt terms suitable buildings in the
city of MontgoE.'ssy can be secured for the of
the several execSEye departments of this Confeder
acy under the PROFESSIONAL government.
RESOLVED, Thai t.ie same committee be charged
with the duty OF estimating and reporting to Con-
gress the necess expenses for fitting End furnish
ing such apart eats for the official business of such
departments. Z 8
The committA'aonsists of Messrs. Shorter, Chill
ton and McRae.F
Mr.. Harris, i Miss, presented the following BILL
which was reaG1:iree times and passed:
a bill to be eattG:l dc to continue IN force certain
idloS of the U5lAed States of America,
BE it enacted - the Congress of the Confederate
States of AmeriSl, That all the laws of the United
States of Ameri in force and in use in these Con-
federate States on the first day of November last,
the same are hereby continued in force until re-
pealed or altered by the Congress.
Mr.. Menmngef offered the following resolution,
which was adopted:
Resolved That The Committee on Finance be in
structed 70 report as as possible, tariff for
raising for the support of the Government.
Mr. Rhett offered she following, which wae adopt
ed:
ResolUsd That committee, consisting of two
from each State. to be nominated by the deputies
from the States, shall be appointed to take into
sderation and report to this Congress Constitution
for the permanent government of the States repre-
scented in this Congress-
Mr. Miles offtrsd the following resolution, which
was adopted
Resolved That, the committee raised to report a
plan for flag tor the Confederate States of Ameri
ca, be also instructed to report device for the
great seal of State, and also and motto for the
Confederacy.