Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-07-28

s. This requires the Senator to be Al cIti
zen of the Confederate States instead o
s.nine years citizen of the United States
SEQ 81 Each House may determine
the rules of its proceedings, punish its mem
bers for disorderly behavior, and. with the
concurrence of two-thirds Cof the whole mum
ber.1 expel MEMBER
This is q salutaFy power; bat, 20 pnard
against abuse. 1t requires two-thirds "ef the
whole number" TO Justify its exercise, instead
OF two-thirds Of the House, as in the Constitu
ton of the United States. - - =
SEC. o.. Congress may, by law, grant
to the principal officer in each of the Execu.
tive DEPARTMENTS, a seat upon the floor Of
either House, with the privilege of discuss
ing any measure appertaining to bis Depart
ment."
This is an important provision. Under the
Constitution of the United States, as well as
that of the Confederate States, the President
may require the opinion of the heads of the
different departments in writing; and il is
made his duly to give tt Congress informa.
ton Of the state OF the Confederacy, and re-
commend such measures to their considera-
ton as he shall judge necessary and expe-
dent. This is always accompanied with
rep lrts from the heads of the different depart
menis, presenting their views OF the public
policy, and recommending measures proper
to be adopted. This provision is for the pnr-
pose OF aiding. and not controlling, the Le-
gisiatlve Department ia its action. Ii is to
enable Congress to derive additional aid from
the heads Of the departments, and, by their be-
Ing present, to give orally any information
that may be needed, and discuss the measures
before Congress In regard to their respective
departments. This is not blending toge-
Their OF the different departments, the Execu
tive aud Legislative; they are entirely sepa-
rate as before. These officers are no part of
the Legislative body, and have no vote upon
its measures; but Congress may derive great
advantage in its deliberations IRON their dis
enssions and their more extensive knowledge
in their several departments.
SEo.7-2. "The President may approve any
appropriation aud disapproye any other ap-
preparation 10 the same bill. In such case, he
shall, in signing the bill, designate the ap-
preparations disapproved, aud shall return a
copy of such appropriations, with his objec-
lions, 10 the House In which the bill shall
have originated, and the same proceedings
shall then be had as in the case Of other bills
disapprovedsby the President"
This is important Obnoxious and uncol-
stitutional appropriations have been often
united in the same bill with those which
were legitimate and proper; and yet the
whole bill must be rejected, or these ap-
preparations retained. This will enable the
President to discriminate between them, and
be salutary guard upon the public trea-
sury.
SEC. 81 The Constitution of the United
States reads in this way: THE Congress
shall have power to lay and collect taxes,
duties, imposts and excuses. TO pay the debts
and provide for the common defence and
general welfare of the United States; but all
duties. impOsts and excuses shall be uniform
throughout the United States"
The Constitution of the Confederate States
is as follows: 1.-The Congress shall have
power to lay and collect taxes, duties, i'm
posts, and excuses, for revenue necessary to
pay the debts, provide for the common de-
fence and carry on the Government of the
Confederate States; but no bounties shall be
granted from the Treasury; nor shall any
duties OF taxes on importations from foreign
nations be laid 10 promote or foster any
branch of industry; and all duties, imposts
and excuses shall be uniform throughout the
Confederate States"
This is one of the most important changes
in the Constitution. The construction placed
upon this clause of the Constitution of the
United States by the dominant and ever in
creasing majority in the free States has
changed the whole character of the Constitu-
ton as it was made by our fathers. 1t is one of
strictly delegated powers and by an express
provision no power can be exercised that is
not specifically granted; nor any laws passed
but such as are necessary and proper" to
carry such powers into effect. Congress may
provide ''for the common defence and general
welfare" SO far as it may be done by the ex-
ercise of the granted powers. Yet, latitude
nous eonstrucIionists contend that these gen.
eral words which are used merely to show
one of the objects for which tue Constitution
cd in flo
grant of power; and consequently, the Con-
stitution is not limited in its operation to
the particular powers specified; but any may
be exercised which fanatical and venal
majority may deem to be ''for the COM
moo defence and general welfare;" doctrine
utterly subVersive of the Constitution and IA
tai to the rights of the States aud the public
liberty.
So the power "to lay and collect taxes,
duties, impost. and excises' In this clause,
instead of being mere revenue power to
pay the debts of the Government has been
construed to be one giving unlimited power
in regard to the extent OF the revenue to be
collected from these sources aud the Objects
to which it is to be applied; justifying pro-
tective tariffs and all that class OF legislation
which has built up the manufacturing and
other gIeat interests Of the North at the ex-
pense of the planting and cotton States. This
change in the Constitution of the Confederate
States will prevent such abuses.
Our limits will not permit an extended mo-
tiee of The other changes in the Constitution
Ut the United States; brief reference to
them must suffice.
3. The power ''to regulate commerce with
foreign nations and among the several
States" in the Constitution of the United
States from which the power to construct
internal improvements" in the States has
been derived is accompanied with the follow
ing restriction in that OF the Confederate
States '.but neither this nor any other
clause contained in the Constitution shall ev-
er be construed to delegate the power to
Congress to appropriate money tor any inter-
nal Improvement intended to facilitate COM
MERGE; except for the purpose of furnishing
lights .beacons, and buoys aud other aids to nav
igation upon the coasts, and the improvement
OF harboTs and the removing of distractions
in river navigation; in all which cases, such
duties shall be laid on the navigation iacili-
tated thereby, as may be necessary TO pay
the costs and expenses thereof"
4. The power to establish Bankrupt law
is accompanied with clause that il shall
not discharge any debt contracted before
the passage Of the same"
Z. The expenses of the Post-ofice Depart
ment, which has been heretofore tax of
millions upon the people. ''shall be paid out
of its own revenues"
SEC. 81. 1.-The importation OF negroes Of
the African race, form any foreign
country other than the slave-holding States
or Territories of the United States of Ameri-
ca. is hereby forbidden; and Congress is re-
guired to pass such laws as shall effsctuslly
prevent the same"
2. Congress shall also have power to pro-
hibit the Introduction of slaves from any
State not member of, or territory not be-
longing to this Confederacy."
T. No "law denying or impairing the right
of property in negro slaves" shall be passed.
The wisdom of these clauses is apparent
they require no comment. they will give
stability to our institutions and prevent fur
Their agitation upon the subject of negro sla-
very; at the same time they will show to the
world the groundlessness of the charge that
it was the object of the Southern Confedera-