Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-03-15
From the Jackson Mi.sissippiau.
The PermanentC on.,ttut,on.

The editor Of the Selma Issue. writing un-
der date Of Montgomery, March LIST, says:
Several provisions of the Permanent Con-
stitution of the Confederate States have
transpired. One is making the Presidential
term six instead of four years. Another
making the terms of the various officers ap-
pointed By him, under Cabinet Ministers, ex-
pire at different periods SO that only a por-
ton of them will fall to the distribution of
one president. Another is that officers ap-
pointed by the President cannot be dismissed
10y him, except for causes assigned in writing,
thus preventing prescription for party pur-
poses, and the last / heard j. that the MEM
bers of the Cabinet will e1 gfcio be entitled
to seats in The popular branch of Congress,
and allowed to speak but not to vote.n
Under the veil of secresy which the Mont
gomery Convention has thrown over their
proceedings. it is difficult for the people in
whose behalf they have been deputed to act,
to catch even faint glimmering of their do
Jugs. This secret method of transaeting pub
lie business, we will here remark, is not ex-
actly consonant with the true theory of our
government, and it is Objectionable, because
| Il removes from the public servant the salu-
| tary restraints which the eyes of the people
never fail to exersise. The ex gcGcies of
| the crisis may sometimes justify depar ture
| from the rule suggested; but no such occasion
where nations are at war, it Is unwise for
| one power to expose IFS plans to the scrutiny
! of the other. We submit that this reason
| does not apply to the case OF the formation
| of the Constitution for the Confederate States;
| and the conclusion is Irresistible that the
Convention at Montgomery by an affection
| of mystery seeks TO invest its proceedings
with sancitity which would not attach to
| them if enacted in ''Open day." or that its
members are striving to avoid the cOnsequen-
ces of full know ledge by the people of
what is going on behind the scenes.
Our present object, however, is not to de-
preciate the "secret night" performs noes at
Montgomery. We shall look more to the re-
| suit of the labors there, than to the mode by
which they are achieved.
| The items contained in the paragraph
copied from the Selma Issue indicate that
| important changes in the inter State relations
| of the Southern government, are in contem-
platiOn. It is even said that these changes
| have already been accomplished so far as the
action of the Convention itself is concerned.
| Not the least among them, is the frightening
| of the Presidential term. fit is proposedto
make this change, and still render the iDcum-
| bent eligible to a second term, we very much
question the wisdom or propriety OF the
change. The Executive Department under
| the provision of the Old Government, by the
patronage it welded, was as an engine of
| immense power irresponsible to the people,
for good or evil. Is this espOn>ible power to
| be increased? Is it demanded by the exisen-
ces of the country. or the voice of the peo-
| pie. Did the feature of the Old Constitution
| relating TO this subject, enter into the causes
of complaint against the former government
| or led to the change of relations which has
taken place?
Again, we are told that, copying the Brit
ish system, Cabinet Ministers are to entitled
to occupy seats on the floor of Congress
This is a radical. material, and we had al
most said. startling Innovation. The great
idea our system of Government has been to
maintain its equilibrium by proper checks
and balances. Hence the creation of three
separate and distinct Departments. This
proposed innovation seems to be somewhat
in conflict with this idea.
But it is not our purpose to argue suppOsi-
tious cases. Our object is to show that radi-
cally Important changes of the old Constitu-
ton are in contemplation at Montgomery,
and TO illustrate the view which we have ad-
vaDced, that it is the right and duty of the
people to pass judgment directly upon the
Permanent Constitution before they consent
to be bound by it. Let US begin right, and
then We can place confidence 10 the perman-
ency of the movement for the separate ma
tionality of the Confederate States.