Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-09-19
NASHVILLE, TENN. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1861.
CONSTITUTION
OF THE
Confederate States of america.

we the people of the Confederate States each STATE
acting in its sovereign and independent character, il
order to form permanent federal government, estab
ish Justice insure domestic tranquility and secure
the blessings OF liberty ourselves and poster
ty-invOkng the fIver and guidance of Ain ghty God
do ordain and establish this Constitution Tor the
/ Confederate States of America.
ARTICLE 1.
SECTION l.
All legislative powers herein delegated shall be vested
in Congress of the Confederate States, which shall
| consist of a Senate and House of Representatives,.
SECTION 2.
l. The HousA of Representatives shall be composed
of members chosen every second year by the people
of the several states; the electors each State
shall be citizens of the Confederate States and have
the qualifications requisite for electors OF the most
1 numerous ranch of the State Legislature but no
foreign BIRTH not citizen of the Confederate
States, shall be allowed any officer civil or
polite State Federal
z. No person shall be u Representative, who shall
net have attained the age OF twenty i've years. and
bsa citizen of the Confederate states and who shall
nOt, whru2 teeted be inlsbiiai.t Cf HAT STATE
winch he Shall be chosen. G
s. Representatives Direct Taxes shall be appor-
toned among J, VcrtI states which may be III
Guided within this COniederacy, according their re-
Spective numbers which shall be determined, by
ding the whole number free persons including
those bound To for term OF years, and ex
cluding Indians taxed, three fIhs of all slaves
The actual enumeration shall be made within three
years after the first meeting OF the Congress of the
Confederate States, and within every subsequent
of ten years, i'll such manner they shall. by la~,
ceed for every fifty THOUSAND, but state shall
have al least one Representative; and until such
meratiOn shall be made the State Oi South Carolina
shall be entitled to choose siN-the state of eo ga
ten-the State of Alabama nine-the State Florida
twothe State of Mississippi seven-the State of Lou
isiana six, and the State of Texas
1. When vacancies happen III the representation
from any State, the Executive authority thereof shall
issue writs of election to ill such vacancies.
8. The House of REPRESENTATIVES shall choose their
speaker and other officers; and shall have the
power of Impeachment; except that any judicial or
al
the limits of any State, may be impeached by vote
of two-thlrds of both branches OF the Legislature
thereof
l. The Senate of the Confederate States shall be
posed of Senators from each State chosen for
the legislature thereof the regular
next Immediately preceding the commencement of
the term of service aud each Senator shall have one
vote.
| 2 Immediately after they shall be assembled in
consequence of the first election they shall be divided
equally may be into three classes. The seats Of
the of the first class shall be vacated the
expiration of the second year Of the second class at
the expiration of the fourth and of the third class
at the expiration oil the sixth year SO that onethrd
may be chosen every second year and if vacancies
happen by resignation, OF otherwise, during the
of the legislature of any State the executive
thereof may make temporary appointments until the
next meeting of the Legislature, which shall then ill
such vacancies.
g. No person shall be a Senator who shall not have
attained the age Of thirty years ami be OF the
Confederate States aud who shall not, when elected
be inhabitant Ol the State FOR which he shall be
chosen.
The Vice President Of the Confederate States shall
he President Of the Senate, but shall have vote,
less they shall be equally divided.
5. The Senate shall choose their other officers and
also President pro teBpoTe III the absence OF the
President when he shall exercise the Office Of Pres
dent of the Confederate States.
g. The Senate shall have the sole power 10 try all i'm
peachments. Whenstting Tor that purpose, they shall
be oath affirmation. When the President of the
Confederate States tried the Chief Justice shall pre-
side and person shall be convicted without the
concurrence of two thirds of the members present.
4 nd a of I'M p4f Fnp Mall moi ay
tend further than To removal from office and disquali
cation to hold and enjoy any office OF honor profit
shall, nevertheless, be liable and sub ect indct-
ment, trial, judgment aud punishment according TO
law.
SECTION 4.
1. The time, place ami of holding elections
for and Representatives shall be prescribed
in each State by the egs thereof subject 10 the
provisions of this Constitution but the Congress may
at any time, by law, make alter such regulations,
except the times and places of choosing Senator'S
yesp s.I sIt IA ''ss.y 1I=l! t. NlulsIy g.
December, unless they shall, by law, appoint dilIer
ent day.
SECTION s.
L. Each House shall he the judge of the elections
returns and qualifications Of its members, and d
majority of each shall constitute quorum TO do busi-
ness ; but smaller number may adjourn from day TO
day, and may be authorized To compel the attendance
of absent members, in such manner and under such
penalties each House may provide.
EACH house may determine tue ruies oil lts pro-
ceedngs punish its members for dsordery behavior,
and with the concurrence Of twOthirds of the whole
number, expel a member.
5. Each House shall keep journal of its proceed
ngs and from time 10 time publish the same excepting
such parts as may in their judgment require secrecy
and the yeas and nays of the members oil either
House. any question: shall, the desire of NTH
of those present, by entered on the journal.
4. Neither House. during the session of Congress,
SHALL without the consent of the other, adjourn
more than three days nor TO any other place than that
in which the two Houses shall be sitting.
SECTION g.
Senator's and Representatives shall receive
compensation for their services, to be ascertaned by
law and paid out of the treasury of the Confederate
States. They SHALL in all cases, except treason and
breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during
their attendance at the session of their respective
Houses, and in going to and returning from the same
and for any speech or debate in either House, they
shall not be questioned IN any other place.
2. No Senator CT Representative shall, during the
time for which he elected, be app inted To any
civil office under the authority of the Confederate
States which shall have been created or the emolu-
whereof shall have been increased during such
time and person holding any office under the Con-
federate States shall be member of either House
during his continuance in Office But Congress NAV
by law grant to the principal officer in each of the Ex
ecutive Departments seat upon the floor of either
House, with the privilege of discussing any
appertaining TO his department.
SECTION I.
1. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the
House of Representatives, but the Senate may pro-
pose concur with amendments ON other bills
2 Every bill which shall have passed both Houses,
shall, before 1t becomes law, be presented to the
President of the Confederate States if he approve, he
shall but he shall IL with OBJ
jections to the House in which it shall have originated
who shall enter the objections at large their jOurn-
ais, ami proceed 10 reconsider it. If after such reconsid
eratiOn twothrds of that House shall agree pass
the BILL it shall be SENT together with the objections,
To the other House, by which il shall likewise be
considered and if approved by two-thirds OF that
House, it shall become law. But in all such cases,
the votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas
and and the persons voting for and against the
bill shall be entered the Journal Of each House
spectIvely. If any bill shall not be returned by the
President within ten days (Sundays excepted) after it
shall have been presented to him. the shall be
law, IN like manner as he had signed 1t, unless the
Congress- by their adjournment prevent its RETURN in
which case it shall not be law The President may
approve any appropriation and dsapprOve any other
appropriation in the same bill. In such case he shall
in signing the bill, designate the appropriations dip
proved; and shall return copy of such appropria-
tions with his objections House in which the
bill shall have originated, ana the same proceedings
shall then be had in case of other bills dsapproved
by the President.
g. Every order resolution or vote to which the CON
currence OF both Houses b. necessary Except on
question of adjournment) shall be presented TO the
President of the Confederate States and before the
shall take effect, shall be approved by him; or
beng disapproved by him. may be re passed by two
thirds both Houses according Ia the rules aud limi
| tations prescribed in case OF u bill
SECTION
| The Congress shall have power
l. To ay and collect taxes duties, imposts, and ex-
cises for revenue necessary pay the debts, provide
for the common defence, and carry ON the govern
ment of the Confederate States, but no bounies sinai
be granted the treasury; shall any duties or
importations from foreign nations be laid 10
promote foster any branch OF Industry and all du
ties impOsts and exciseS shall be Uniform lErou hOut
| the Confederate States:
2 To borrow money on the credit of the Conieder-
| ate States:
| g. To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and
among the several States and with the Indian tribes
| but neither this, nor any other clause contain
ed in the constitution, shall ever be construed 10 dele
gate the power 10 Congress TO appropriate money or
any internal Improvement intended TO facilitate com
merce; except for the purpose of furnishing lights
beacons and buOys and other aids TO navigation upon
the coasts, and the Improvement OF har6ors and the
removing of distractions in river nAvlgatlon in al
which cases, such duties shall be laid the naviga
tion facilitated thereby, may be necessary to pay
the costs and expenses thereof:
10 establish uniform laws OF naturalization, anC
uniform laws the subject OF bankruptcies, through
the Confederate States, but no law OF Congress
shall discharge any debt contracted before the pssag
| OF the same:
L To, the value thereof and q