Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-03-06
, Tie. STANDARD.
THE GERMS OF A NEW SECESSION.

yates appointed Oy SOuVcuClOnS Vi Itl0 SEVERAL
seeding States, having met in Montgomery (Ala.)
to form provisional government for the new Con.
federacy, resolved themselves into what is techn-
cally called . Congress rather than Conven-
ton" IL is also known that this Congress has
elected the Hon. Jefferson Davis. Of Mississippi, as
President, and the Hon. A. H. Stephens of Georgia,
Is Vice President Of the "Confederate States OF
America !" and has enacted, as the fundamental law
Of tho new Government the Constitution OF the
United States, with such alterations as were deemed
expedient in view Of the new conditions which the
Congress was called to meet
We append few articles or sections OF the provl-
sional Constitution thus inaugurated that our read
ers may apprehend their bearing on outstanding
questions between the constituents of the new Con-
federation or between that Confederation and the
Government of the United States.
The first section of Article is as follows:
"All legislative powers herein delegated shall be/
vested in this Congress, assembled until otheT
wise ordained" 4
The seventh section in the same article, makes
the following provisions:
~. The importation of African negroes fromiany
foreign country other than the slavenoding States
of the United States is hereby forbidden; and Con-
gress is required to pass such laws as shall eectu-
ally prevent the same.
hbt the introduction Of slaves from any State not
q member of this Confederacy."
The fifth article is rs follows:
1.-THE Congress, by vote of twothrds, may, at
any time, alter or amend this Constitution"
The sixth article contains the following sections:
"2. The Government hereby instituted shall take
Immediate steps for the settlement Of all matters
between the States forming it and their other late
oonfederates of the United States in relation to the
public property and public debt at the time of their
withdrawal from them these States hereby declar-
ing it to be their wish and earnest desire to adjust
every thing pertaining to the common property,
common liability, and common obligations of that
union upon the principles of right justice equality
and good faith.
IS. Until otherwise provided by the Congress
the city of Montgomery, in the State of Alabama,
shall be the seat OF government
~ The members of the Congress, and all execu.
tive and judicial officers of the Confederacy, shall
be bound by oath affirmation to support this
Constitution; but religious test shall be requr-
ed as qualification to any office or public trust I'M
der this Confederacy.
"5. The Congress shall have power to admit
other States"
gress' assembled at Montgomery, it was perhaps to
Be expected that the originators of the secession
movement would readily conclude that they had spent
their strength for naught if it is to result in conclu
slons no more sound and in arrangements no more
hopeful than such as substantially existed under the
"ehete" Constitution of the United States. As
things stand the citizens of the new Confedera
ton have simply exchanged Constitution which
was duly ratified by the people of their respective
States for one that has been improvsed without the
pretence of any authority derived from the express
or implied assent of the people in electing the Con-
ventions which have passed the ordinances of seces
sion in the several States composing the new Lea
que. This extemporized Constitution will now, in
turn be submitted for ratification to the several Con-
ventions by whose representatives it formed at
Montgomery. Such being the state of the case, we
sure no reader will be surprised to learn that
the pending project, and the legislation already
adopted under it fail to commend themselves to the
approval of those who inaugurated the movement
for Southern independence under the inspiration o.
South Carolina IDEAS single specimen of this le-
gslation is thus appreciated by the Montgomery
correspondent Of the Charleston Mercury, in his let
ter under date of the 9th instant:
congress to-day exhibited tsusual energy in its
legislation. 1t adopted, by one short act all the
laws of the United States, contained hear in some
eight ponderous volumes. And the beauty of the
matter is that they are not alterabe executing by
twothirds Of the body; for there being six States,
four are necessary to carry law; 90 you hare the
eristing tariff Of 1857 orer you, which the whole
Of New England voted for as promoting their pro-
tected interests. Whether it is constitutional under
the new Constitution, can form opinion. Ipre-
not, for learn that resolution was also adopt
ed ordering the Committee on Finance to report as
soon as possible, q tariff bill We are getting along
with sevenleagued boots; and If we have no war
presume the Congress may rise by the 4th of March
l have just heard that committee is appointed to
form and report Constitution for the permanent
Government Who constitutes the committee hope
to tell you in my next This is the grand Labor of
the Congress"
And if such are the views Of the Mercury's cor
respondent its editor gives the suhjoined unmistak-
able expression to Lis dissatisfaction with the pro-
ceedings taken 1t Montgomery. 1t is already evil
dent that disuaes is not to be sure remedy for all
Southern ills We quote from the Mercury of the
18th instant:
The Provisional Constitution Of the Confederate
Suites Of America"
sour readers will perceive that the United States
Constitution, with few amendments, has been
adopted and also, by sweeping enactment, the
United States laws for the temporary government
Of the Seeding States confederated at Montgomery.
We regret that any Provisional Government
was formed at all and in one two important par.
ticulars confess to disappointment and surprise at
the Government and laws enacted. It seems that
the United States Protective Tariff of 1857 has
been adopted and that a positice condemnation 0,
the 'nststution Of starery, through The slace trade
has been inherited into the Constitution itself-
Neither of these did we expect We did not SUD-
pos that any Southern Government, whether for 8
month or year, would sanction the policy of pro
tectve tariffs. The tariff of 1857 is od,ous and Cd
pressive in its determinations 1t was made t.
favor Northern enterprise at the EXPENSE Of tn,
people Of the South huge free-lst for them. tn,
burden of taxation for US to bear-and we maintain
is adverse to revenue, unjust in principle, and Cd
pressive in practice. Whether this is brought abou
by partial remission of duties or partial imposi
ton, it is still the same in effect We enter ou
protect against the scheme and policy both as regards
ourselves and in the results SO far as foreign nations
are concerned and their friendship, at this tim
valuable to US. In each respect free trade is til
true policy ef the Confederate States.
-" We deem tt also unfortunate and NAL apropo
that the stigma Of illegitimncy and egality shoul
placed Upon the institution Of slarery By fun
aaentat lao against tho slaoe trade. In our opin
ION 1t 80 matter Of policy, and not of principle
TO- be decided nov and hereafter, from sound pieu
e. the necsssitis and saffy of our people. W
think it proper subject Of legislation. We ar