Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-05-10
Cens.itution of the southern Confederacy.


ton of that instrument each State acts in its sover
eign and independent character" The preamble to
the Constitution of the United States says. In Or
der to form more perfect Union, establish justice,
insure domestic tranquility, prOuds for The common
defence promote the general lOefars,6c The pream-
bic to the Constitution OF the Confederate States
omits all the words which have italicized and
has instead of 'more perfect Union," the words
permanent Federal Government" The words, Sin
rokinc the favor and guidance of Almighty God"
are rot in the United States preamble. Indeed,
there is no where in our Constitution recognition
of the Almighty.
In the second section of Article l. there is an ad-
dition declaring that mo person of foreign BIRTH
not a citizen Of the Confederate States, shall be
allowed to vote for any officer, civil political
State or Federal" This is to guard against such
enactments as they have some Of our Ncrthwes-
tern States where they pernitfOregnerst vote for
all officers State and Federal before they have been
naturalized while in Tennessee they are required
10 have been citizens of the United States for six
months before they vote. Under our Constitution
no person can be Representative in Congress who
has not been citizen of the United States for
years. and no one can be Senator who has not been
a citizen for nine years. These requirements are
omitted in the Southern Constitution, very much to
the qualification, we presume of all citizens of the
United States who ever expect to become citizens of
the Confederate States. The last four lines of the
5th paragraph of section g article l. is an addition
empowering State Legislatures, by vote of two
thirds Of both branches, to impeach any judicial or
other federal officer resident and acting solely with
n the limits of the State. All impeachments, how
ever have as with u.s. to be tried by the Senate of
the Federal Government.
Section g. Article /, requiers Senators to be chos
at the regular session Of the Legislature next
Immediately preceding the commencement Of the
term of service" The fourth section prohibits
State Legislatures from interfering with "ts fines
as well as places for holding elections for Senator
Paragraph two Section 5, Article g. requires two
thirds 'of he Ichole number" of Representative to
expel member Our Constitution only requires
tive thirds of those voting provided there bea quo
rum.
The sixth section authorizes Congress "by law"
10 grant to the principal officer in each of the Exc
cutve Departments, seat upon the floor of either
House, with the privilege of discussing any mea-
Eures appertaining to his department The follow
ing is an addition to the 9Th section:
The President may approve an appropriation and
disspprove any other appropriation in the same bill
In such case he shall. in signing the bill designate
the appropriations disapprVed; and shall return
copy OF such appropriations, with hi, objections to
Ihe House in which the bill shall have originated:
and the same proceedings shall then be had in
case of other bills dissapproved by the President.
IN the first clause of the Sth section, the words
carry on the Government " are substituted for
general welfare"
No bounties shall be granted from the treasury
nor sh Il any duties or taxes on impOrtations from
foreign nations be laid to promote or foster any
branch of industry
The following in the third clause OF the Sth is an
addition:
Neither this, nor any other clause contained IN
the Constitution shall ever be construed todeegAte
the power Congress TO appropriate money for any
internal Improvement intended 10 facilitate com
merce; except for the purpose of furnishing lights
beacons and bgOys, and other aids TO navigation
upon the coasts and the improvement Of barbors
and the removing of Instructions in river nav!ga-
tion in all which cases. such duties shall be LAID on
the navigation facilitated thereby, may be neces
sary to pay the costs and expenses thereof.
In the fifth clause the following is added:
No law of Congress shall discharge any debt coz
traCted before the passage OF the same
By clause Z, after the LIST of March, 1868, the ex-
penses of the Postofice Department shall be paid
out of its own resources.
By the LIST clause Of the 9th Section the re-opening
gess is required to pass laws to prevent the
By the ID clause, Congress has power to prohibit
the introduction of slaves from States not member
of or from Territory, not belonging to the Confed
eracy. By the 4th clause mo law denying or i'm
pairing the right of property negro saves shall
be passed Two thirds of both Houses may lsy
tax or duty on exports. The following is omitted:
Nor shall vessels bound to- or from one State, be
be obliged to enter, clear pay dGties IN another
The following are changes:
9. Congress shall appropriate no money from the
treasury except by vote Of twO-thrds of both
Houses taken by yeas and nays, unless il be asked
and estimated for by some one Of the heads of De
partments and submitted to Congress by the Presi-
dent: or for the purpose OF paying its expenses
and contingencies: or for the payment of claims
AGAINST the Confederate States the justice of which
shall have been judically declared by tribunal for
The investigation of claims against the government,
which it is hereby made the duty OF Congress to
establish.
federal currency the exact amount of each appro>
pration and the purpose for which 1t Is made; and
Congress shall grant no extra compensation 10 any
public contractor. officer, agent. or servant AFTER
such contract shall have been made or such service
rendered
20 Every law or resolution having the force OF
law shall relate to but one subject and that shall
be EXPRESSED in the title The prohibition against
emitting bills of credit by the States, is omitted
The following from the word except" is an addi-
lion:
2 M S+o+a shall without the consent of Cong -ess,
Law any duty of tonnage except on sea going cesSes
for the Improvement of its rivers ana hdToofS adO9Gted
6y the said UeSselS; but such duties shai nor cohGt
with any treaties of the Confederate states WIN
foreign nations; and any surplus OF revenue mus
derived shall after making such improvement; De
paid into the common treasury. DuI "neH
any river divides or flows through two or more
States. they may enter into compacts WIKI eAcn
other TO improve the navigation thereof
The term of Office for the President and Vice Pre-
sident is fixed six instead of four years ana Inc
President ia not re eligible.
No person except natural born citizen OF the
Confederate States or citizen thereof at the time
of the adoption of this Constitution, or clLaeh
thereof born in the United States prior to the ZOIh
of December, 1860 shall be eligible 10 the ONCE OI
President.
The following is an addition:
? The princinal officer in each of the Executive
Repartments and all persons connected Win the
5;nIomafie service, may be removed from Office at
+be pleasure of the President. All other civil ON.
ee,s Of the Executive Department may De removed
AZ anv time by the President, or other appointing
o,Ter when their services are unnecessary or Tor
disbonestv iucapacity inefhciency, misconduct, or
NEGLECT of duty: md when so removed the removal
snail ba renored to the Senate, together with the
reason therefor.
No person whose appointment by the Fresioen'
has been rejected by the Senate shall be reSPpont
ed to the same Office during the ensuing recess by
section g article 4, the citizens of each state sAaH
have right of transit and soourn in any state Oh t
Confederacy with their slaves and property ana le
right of property in slaves shall not be thereby In
paired In speaking CT persons held to service OF
labor in any State or Territory and escaping there
from slaves especially named, and they shall De
delivered up if they escaped or wkeG lawfully
carried into any State or Territory. Other
States may be admitted by two-thirds |
vote Of the whole House and twothirds |
of the Senate, the Senate voting by States. |
New Territory may be acquired, and Congress |