Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-02-12

enee to commerce from the adoption of them.
The ColIector:so that port Mr. Colcock will give
you exact INFORMATION in relation to such of these
matters as you nay desire to have.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
A. G. MAGRATH.
CONSTITUTION
OF THE
Provisional Government
Confederate states of America.
sth February, 1861.
Read first, second and third times and engrossed
and unanimously st.pted. 1000 copies ordered to
be printed. HOWELL CoBB
J. j. HOOPER, Se'T. President of Congress.
We, the Deputif z the Sovereign and Independ
ent States of SoIf Carolina Georgia, Florida, Al
ALBANIA, hississipp:s.and Louisiana, invoking the fa
vor of Almighty FL, do hereby, in behalf of these
States, ordan and establish this Constitution for the
Provisional GOveFssment of the same: to continue
year from the inauguration of the President,
until permanent Constitution or Confederation be-
tween the said ,ftates shall be put in operation,
whatsoever shalg FIRST occur
PARTICLE l.
SECTION l.
All legislative towers herein delegated shall be
vested in this Corr ress now assembled until other
wise ordained
SECTION 2.
When vacanc 2 happen in the representation
from any State, A. shall be filled in such
the propershuthorities of the State shall d.
rect
SECTION 3.
l. The Congress shall be the judge of the cleo
tons, returns and qualifications of its MEMBERS any
number of DepuG5 from majority of the States,
being present sh4l constitute quorum to do bust
ness; but smau9rsAumber may adjourn from day
to day, and may teAuth0riZed to compel the attend
ance of absent me5S5ers upon all questions before
the Congress each 3tate shall be entitled to vote
and shall be repre- ssnted by any one or more OF its
| Deputies who maggie present.
2. The Congre. VJlay determine the rules of its
proceedings, pdnlab It's members for disordery be-
haviour, and, witt the concurrence of wo-thirds
| expel a member.
3. The Congress- shall keep q journal of its pro-
ceedlngs, and fro time to time publish the same,
excepting such psts may, in their judgment, re-
| quire secrecy; aE the yeas and nays of the MEM
bers on any questen, shall at the desire of oneifth
of those present, e at the instance of any State
be entered on the journal.
SECTION 4.
The members ofCongress shall receive compen-
satien for their services be ascertained by law
and paid out Of the treasury of the Confederacy.
They shall in a cases, except treason felony and
breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest DUR
ing their attendance at the session of the Congress-
gong TO anu from the SaT3, anu
any speech or debate they shall not be questioned
in any other place.
SECTION 5.
| l. Every bill which shall have passed the Con-
gress, shall, before it becomes law be presented to
the President Of the Confederacy if he approve he
shall sign it; but if not he shall return it with his
| objections, to the Congress, who shall enter the
objections at large on their journal, and proceed to
reconsider It, If, after such reconsideration two
thirds of the Congress shall agree to pass the BILL
| il shall become law. But in all such cases, the
vote shall be determined by yeas and nays and the
names OF the PEI 7ns voting for and against the
bill shall be enter ed on the journal Ifany bill shall
not be returned By the President within ten days
| Sundays excepte,O after it shall have been pre-
! sented to him, the same will be law, in like man.
ner as if he had sined it, unless the Congress, by
their adjournnept prevent its return in which case
it shall not be saw. The President may veto any
appropriation. OF appropriations, and approve any
other approprias p or appropriations, in the same
bill 60 - "t'
q Every orde1 Sresolution or vote intended to
have the force an effect of law, shall be present
ed to the PresidC& and before the shall take
| effect, shall be approved by him, being dsap-
proved by him, a Il be repassed by two thirds of
the Congress, &C ding to the rules and limitations
| prescribed in tbs &lse of bill.
| 3. Until the #uguration of the President all
bills, orders, DlutOns and votes adopted by
the Congress shs foe of full force without appro-
val by him
SECTION C.
l. The CongrefA shall have power to lay and col
lect taxes, duteS impests and exercises, for the
revenue necessaIEto pay the debts and carry
the GovernmeniXsof the Confederacy And all
duties, imposts, God excuses shall be uniform
throughout the II Ses of the Confederacy And this
Congress shall exercise executive powers, until
the President is ssugurated
2. To borrow E.ney on the credit of the Con-
federacy: y:
8. To regulate commerce with foreign nations
and among the \ raj States, and with the Indian
tribes:
. 4 70 establ : a.uniform rule of naturalization
and uniform l& Son the subject of bankruptcies
throughout thS s sffederacy:
5. To coin !lAy regulate the value thereof and
of foreign coin Al fix the standard of weights and
measures:
g. To provi Sor the punishment of counter
feting the secI Is ts and current coin of the Con-
federacy: &
Z. To estabi .sost offices and post roads
8. To promo se progress of science and useful
arts by securi &for limited times, TO authors and
inventors the. elusive right to their respective
writings and ASveries:
O. To consti,s tribunals inferior to the Supreme
court:
10. To defRsN7 punish piracies and feloDes
committed on fShigh seas, and offenses against the
law of nations
II. To decla1I$yar grant letters of marque and
reprisal, and - 1e rules concerning captures on
land and water.
II. To ralse a+kl support armies; but no appria-
ton of money q use shall be for longer term
than two years y
ID. To prOvi'E ;sld maintain a navy:
Il. To make Aaes for the government and regu-
latiOn Of the La 2 and naval forces:
10. To provsA: for calling forth the militia to
execute the lay,, of the COnfederaey, suppress in
surTection, andSspel invasions
t. To provEE for organizing, arming and dis
cipning the mIsia and for governing such part of
them may bsscmployed in the service of the Con-
federacy, reseEsng to the States respectively the
appointment Ct the officers, and the authority of
training the militia according to the discipline pre-
scribed by Congress: and
IL. To make all laws which shall be necessary |
and proper for carrying into execution the forego
ing powers, and all other powers expressly dele
gated by this Constitution to this Provisional Gov
eminent.
SECTION Z.
l. The importation of African negroes from any |
foreign country other than the slaveholding States
of the United States is hereby forbidden; and Con.
gress is required to pass such laws shall eectu
all prevent the same.
2. The Congress shall also have power to prohibi-
the introduction of slaves from any State not
member of this Confederacy.
;. The privilege of the writ of Habeas Corpus
hall Dot ha dad Irhau in paseS orr