Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-02-28
CONSTITUTION
For tfte Provisional Government Confederate
States of


We the Deputies the Sovereign and Indepepdent States
o. South Carolina, Georgia. Florida Alabama Mississpp
and Louisiana, invoking the favor of Almighty God, do
hereby IN behalf of these States oFdan and this
Constitution for the Provisional Government of the same
to continue one year from he Inauguration of the President
or until permanent Constitution or Confederation between
the SAID states shall be put in operation Whatsoever shall
first occur.
ARTICLE
SECTION |.
All legislative powers herein delegated shall be vested
IN this congress embed until otherwise ordained
SECTION 2.
When vacancies happen il the representation from any
State the shall be filed in such manner as the proper
authorities Of tn stale shall direct
SECTION 3.
l. The Congress shall be the Judge of the elections re-
turns and qualifications of its members any number of Dep
ues from majority of the States being present. shall
stItue quorum to do business but smaller number may
adjourn from day to day ard may be authorized compel
fore the Congress- each State shall entitled to one vote
and shall be repesented by more of its Deputies
who may be present
T. Congress may determine the rules of its proceedings,
punish lis members for dsordey behaviour, and ihe
concurrence of two-thirds, expel member.
3. The Congress shall keep journal of its proceedings
and from time to time publish the same excepting such
parts as may in their judgment require secrecy and the
yeas ana nays OF the members on any question: SHALL at the
desire Of onefth of those present. instance any
one State be entered on the Journal
SECTION 4.
The members of Congress shall compensation
for their service to be acertaned by law paid
TIE treasury OF the COntederacy They shall in ali
except treason felony and breach of the peace, be prv
legged from arrest during their attendance the session
~ congress- and III gong TO and returning from the same
and tor any speech debate they shall not be questioned
| any other place.
| SECTION 5.
every bill which shall have passed the Congress shall
the Conederacy if ne approve he shall sign it but if not
he shall return it. with his objections Congress- who
shall enter the objections at large on their journal and
ceed to IT. IT, after such reconsideration two
thirds OF the Congress shall agree pass the b it shall
become law bu in all sucH cases. the vote shall be de-
temned by yeas aud nays and the names of the
voting tor and against the bill sha be the jour
nal If any bill shall not be returned by the President
within ten days (Sundays exceped after shall have been
presented to him, the shall be law in like
he bad signed it, unless the Congress by their adjournment
prevent its RETURN in which it shall not be law The
President may veto any appropriation appropriations
and approve any other appropriation appropriations in
Every order resolution VOTE intended have the
force and effect of law SHALL be presented to the Pres
dent and before the shall take effect shall be ap
proved by him. being disapproved by him, shall be
passed by twohrds OF the Congress- according the rules
and limitations prescribed in the case of a bill.
3, Until the Inauguration of the President all bills Or
ders esoutions and adopted by the Congress shall
! be OF full force without approval by him.
sACTIoN g.
L. The Congress shall have power to lay and collect
duties poss and excuses Tor the revenue necessary to
pay the debts and carry the Government of the CJnfede
racy and all duties, imposs and excises shall be uniform
throughout the States of the Confederacy And this Con
gress shall also exercise exclusive power until the Pres
dent is inaugurated:
?. TO borrow money the credit of the Conederacy
j. Toreguate with foreign nations and among
the several states, and with the Indian tribes:
4 10 establish uniform rule of naturalization and
torn laws on the SUBJECT OF bankruptcies throughout the
Confederacy:
s. To coin money regulate the value and of foreign con
and fix the standard Of weights and measures:
o. To provide for the punishment of countereitng the
securities and current coin OF the COnfederacY:
l. 10 establish poStodlceS and post roads,
s. To omote the progress of science and useful arts by
securing for limited times to authors and inventors the eX
elusive right to their respective writ and discoveries
o. To itue tribunals inferior to the supreme
TO- 10 debf and punish praces and felonies committed
on the high and offences against the law of nations
H. TO dec are war; grant letters of marque and reprisa
and make rules concerning captures land and
H. To raise and support armies but no appropriation of
money that shall be for longer than years
l3. To provide and maintain a navy:
IA 10 make rules tor the government and regu alton OF
the land and naval forces:
Is. To Ovde for calling forth the militia execute the
laws OF the Conederacy suppress nsurrecons and repe
invasions
Is. To provide for organizing armng and digcplinng
the militia and for governing such part of them may be
employed the service OF the Cnederacy reservlng to
the States respectively the appointment OF the olcers aid
the authority OF training the militia according to the dscl
, pllne prescribed by Congress and
II. TO make all laws which shall be and
for carrying execution the foregoing powers and ali
other expressly delegated by this onvenon to this
SECTION I.
/ l. The importation of negros from any foreign
country other than tbs saveholdng Staes hereby forbid
den and Congress required tU pass such laws shall e
fectuay prevent the same.
3 That Cong shall also have power to prohibit the
PRODUCTION Of slaves from State not member of this
Confederacy.
s. The privilege of the writ of Habeas Corpus shall not
be suspended unless when in Of rebellion INVASION
the public safety may require it
4. No Bill OF Attainder post facto law, shall be
passed.
merce to the ports OF State over those of
another shall vessels bound to or from one state be
obliged to enter, clear, or pay duties in another
6. No money shall be dawn from the treasury, but in
consequence OF appropriations made by law and regular
and of the receipts aud expenditures of
all public mooey shall be published from time to time.
T. Congress shall appropriate no money from the treasu
ry unless be asked for by the President Of
the heads of Departments except Oc the purpose OF
It's own expenses and continge nCleS.
s. No title of nobility shall be gganted by the Confedea
cy holding office profit trust under
SHALL without the consent OF the Congress- accept OF any
present emoumen office, or title of any kind whatever,
from any king, prince or foreign State.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establish
of religion prohibiting the free exercise thereof
abrdgng the eedom of Speech of the press the
right OF the people peaceaby to assemble and to petition
the for redress of such grievances as the del
egated powers OF this may to consd
TO- well regulated militia being necessary the secu-
ry free State the right of the people keep and bear
arms shall not be infringed.
IL soldier SHALL time of peace be quartered in any
house without the OF the time of
but in manner to be prescribed by law.
H. The right OF the people to be secure in their persons
houses papers and effects against searches
and seizures, shall not be Vloated and no warrants shall
issue but upon probable cause supported by oah or afr
ed and the persons or things to be seized.
49, No person shall be held to answer for capital 9th
erwise infamous crime unless presentment fndic
ment grand jury except In cases arising IN the land OF
naval forces or IN the ma when IN actual service IN time
OF war or pubic danger nor shall any erson be subject
for the offence to be twice put in jeopardy of lie
nor sha be or m III D any o a Ease bor 10 DC
property without due of law shall private
property be taken for public without just compensa
ton.
IA In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy
the right to speedy and pubic trial. by an impartial jury
and district the shall have been
committed which district shall have been previously
by law and to be informed of the nature and
the accusation, to be confronted with the witnesses
against him to have compulsory process for obtaining wit
his favor and have the assistance of counsel
for his defence.
Is. In suits at law where the value in contro
roversy shall exceed twenty dollars the right of trial by
shall be preserved and fact tried by jury shall
reexamned any court of the Contederacy
than according to the rules of the common law
l6. Excessive bail shall not be required excessive
fines imposed cruel and unusual punishments inflicted
II. The enumeratoD in the Constitution, of certain
rights shall be construed to deny dsparage others
retained by the people, ss
l8. pow delegated to the Confederacy by the
Constitution, prohibited by the Sates
ed 10 The LespectiXelY, or to the people.