Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-09-27
NASHVILLE, TENN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER q, 1861
CONSTITUTION
OF THE
Confederate States Of america.

We, the people of the Confederate States each Sta,
acting in its sovereign and independent character
order To form permanent federal government estsl
lish justice insure domestic tranquility and secur
the blessings of liberty ourselves and our poster
ty-inyoking the faysr and guidance of Almighty Go
do Ordain and establish this Constitution Tor tn
Confederate States OF America
ARTICLE L
SECTION 1.
All legislative powers herein delegated shall be veste
in Congress of lhe Confederate States which shal
consist OF Senate and House of Representatives..
SECTION 2.
l. The House of Representatives shall be composec
of members chosen every second year by the peopI,
Of the several states and the electors in each Stats
shall be citizens of the Confederate States and have
the qualifications requisite for electors Of the most
numerous branch of the State Legislature but nc
of foreign birth not citizen of the
States shall allowed vote for any officer civil ar
political, State or Federal.
2. No person shall be Representative who shall
not have attained the age OF twenty i've years. and
b acitizen of the Confederate states and who shall
not, hen elected be inhabiIaut of thai Stat. in
winch he shall be chosen.
3. Representatives and Direct Fakes shall be amor
TUNED among the sever 81 States, which may be in
cutTed within this tOnfreracy according their re-
spectye numbers, which shall be determined by ad-
ding 10 the whole number OF free persons including
those bound TO service for a term of years aud ex
Guiding Indians not taxed, threehfths 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 term
of ten years, in such manner they shall by law
direct The number OF Representatives shall not ex
ceed for every fifty THOUSAND but each State shall
have at least Representatives until such emu
Ineration shall be made the State OF South Carolina
shall be entitled to choose sx-the State of Geo gia
ten-the State of Alabama Dine-the State Florida
twothe State of Mississippi seven-the state of Lou
isiana six, and the State of Texas SIX
T. When vacancies happen in the representation
from State the Executive authority thereof shall
issue writs of election to hll such vacancies.
s. The House of REPRESENTATIVES shall choose their
speaker and other officers; and shall have the sole
power of Impeachment; except that any judicial or
oher federal officers resident and acting solely within
the limits OF any State, may be impeached by vote
Of O-thrds Of both branches OF the Legislature
thereof.
SECTION 3.
1. The Senate of the Confederate shall be com
posed of two Senator's from each State chosen for
by the legislature thereof at the regular session
next Immediately preceding the commencement of
the term of service and each Senator shall have
vote.
2. Immediately after they shall be assembled in
of the first election they shall be divided
equally may be into three classes. The seats OF
the Senators of the first class shall be vacated the
expiration of the second of the second class
the expiration of the fourth year of the third class
at the expiration OF the sixth that nethird
may be chosen every second year and if sacancies
happen by eSignation, otherwise, during the re-
cess Of the legislature of any State the executive
thereof may make temporary appointments until the
next meeting of the Legislature, which shall then i'll
such vacancies
5. No person shall be Senator who shall not have
attained the age of thirty years and be citizen the
Confederate States and who shall not, when elected
be an inhabtant OF the State for which he shall be
chosen
The Vice President of the Confederate States shall
be President of the Senate but shall have vote
ess they shall be equally divided.
8. The Senate shall choose their other officers and
also President pro eBpOre the absence of the Vice
President when he shall exercise the office Presi-
lent of the Confederate States.
8. The Senate shall have the sole power try all inn
Deachmens When sitting for that purpose they shall
De "n oath or affirmation. When the President of the
Confederate States tried the Chief Justice shall pre-
de and person shall be convicted without the
concurrence of two-thirds of the members present
I. Judgment i'll cases Of Impeachment shall not ex-
end further Than TO removal from office and dsauali-
cation TO hold and enjoy any office OF honor profit
nder the States but the party convicted
hall, nevertheless, be liable and subject to ndIct
nent, trial, Judgment and punishment according To
aw.
SECTION T.
1. The time, place and manner of holding elections
Or Senators aud Representatives shall be prescribed
each State by the egsl ture thereof subject
rovisons of this Constitution but the Congress NAV
any time, by law, make or alter such regulations,
xcep To the times and places of choosing Senator'S
2. The Congress shall assemble least every
ear and such meeting shall be on the arst Monday In
ecember, unless they shall, by law, appoint differ
ut day.
SECTION s.
1. Each House shall be the Judge of the elections
eturns and qualifications of its members and q /
laorfy OF each shall constitute quorum do busi-
hut a smaller pumber may adjourn from day 10
ay aud may be authorized TO compel the attendance
absent members, IN such manner and under snch i
enalties as each House may provide.
2 Each House may determine the rules of its pro-
eedngs, punish its members for disorderly behavior
nd, with the concurrence Of two tlrds the whole
umber, eXpel member
s. Each House shall keep Journal of its proceed
gs, and from time to time publish the excepting
lch parts as may IN their judgment require secrecy
nd the yeas and nays of the members OF either /
ouse, on any question: SHALL at the desire Of one fifth
those present, by entered on the journal
T. Neither House, during the session of Congress-
nall, without the consent Of the other adjourn for
ore than three days nor TO any other place than that
which the two Houses shall be sitting. |
SECTION 8.
l. The Senator's and Representatives shall receive
)mpensation for their services to be ascertained by
and paid out of the treasury of the Confederate
ates iney snali, III All cases, except treason and
reach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during
ler attendance at the session of their respective |
ouses, and in going TO and returning from the
Id for any speech debate ia either House thew
lal not be questioned IN any other place.
2 No Senator or Representative shall, during the
me for which he was elected, be app fnted 10 any /
vii office under the authority OF the Confederate
ates which shall have been created or the emolu-
ents whereof shall have been increased during such
me and no person holding any office under the Con-
derate States shall be member of either House
lring his continuance in office. But Congress may
law, grant to the principal officer in each of the Ex
;utiye Departments seat upon the floor of either
ouse with the privilege OF discussing any
70 his department.
SECTION Z
l. All bills for raising shall originate in the
ouse of Representatives.; but the Senate may pro-
2. Every bill which shall have passed both Houses,
hall, before it becomes law, be presented to the L
resident OF the Confederate States if he approve he
hall sign but If not he shall return il with his OBJ
ctions to the House which shall have originated
ho shall enter the objections at large their iourn
and proceed to reconsider it, If after such reconsjd
-aton, two thirds of that House shall agree TO pass
he BILL il shall be sent, together with the objections
the other House, by which it shall likewise be re-
Ouse. it shall become a law. Bat in all such cases
he votes of both Housesshall be determined by
nd nays and the persons voting for and against the
Ill shall be entered on the Journal of each House
)ectively. IL any bill shall not be returned by the
resident within ten days (Sundays excepted) after it
lall have been presented 10 him the same shall be
w, in like manner If he had signed it, unless the
ongress, by their adjournment, prevent its return in
hich case il shall not be law. The President may
pprove any appropriation and disapprove any other
in the bill In such heohall,
signing the BILL designate the appropriations disap
reved; and shall return copy OF such aPpropria-
ons, with his objections TO the House IN which the
Ill shall have originated, and the same proceedings
nall then be had in Of other bis disapproyed
y the President
g. Every order resolution or vote to which the con-
lrrence of boIh Houses be necessary Except on
question of adjournment) shall be presented to the
resident of the Confederate States; and before the
anne shall take effect, shall be approved by him; or
eng disapproved by him, may be re-passed by two
lirds of both Houses according 70 the rules aud mi
atoms prescribed in case of bill.
SECTION
The Congress shall have power
l. To lay and collect taxes, duties imposts, and ex
ses for necessary TO pay the debts, provide
,r the common defence, and carry on the govern
lent OF the Confederate States but no bounties shall
granted from the treasury nor shall any duties or
,xes importatioRs from foreign nations be laid 10
romote or foster any branch OF industry; and all du
es imposts and excses shall be uniform throughout |
le Confederate States: |
2 To borrow money on tho credit of the Coufeder-
le States:
g. To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and
mong the several States, and with the Indian Tribes
ut neither this, any other clause contain |
the constitution, shall ever be construed 10 dele
the power 10 Congress 10 appropriate money Tor
nv internal Improvement intended TO facilitate COM
lerce except Tor the purpose Of furnishing lights
eacons and buoys, and other aids TO navigation upon
ne coasts, and the Improvement OF harbors and the
anoFing of distractions in river navigation, in all
rhch cases such duties shall be laid on the naviga
on facilitated thereby, may be necessary To pay
he costs and expenses thereof: 4
4. 20 establish uniform laws of naturalization, and
inform laws the subject of bankruptcies, through
ut the Confederate States, but no law of Congress
ball discharge any debt contracted before the passage
the same:
fhara aral