Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1861-02-14
THE "SOUTHERN~CON

1t will be seen by the following dispatch that
the Convention of the extreme Southern States
in session at Montgomery, Ala, have adopted
Constitution fop a Southern Confederacy, and
elected the Hon. Jeff Davis, of Miss, President
and the Hon. A. H. Stephens, of Ga, Vice
President Oft new republic
MONTGOMERY, Feb. 9.-The Constitution of
the Provisional Government Of the Southern
Confederacy has been printed and is now made
public. The preamble says:
We, the Deputies of the Sovereign and indie
pendent States of South Carolina, Georgia, Flor-
da, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, invok-
ing the favor of Almighty God, do hereby in
behalf of these States ordain and establish this
Constitution for the Provisional Government of
the same, to continue one year from the inaugu-
ration of the President, or until permanent
Constitution or Confederation between said
States shall be put in operation which soever
shall first occur.
The seventh section of the first article pro-
vides: "Ihe importation of African negroes
from any foreign country other than the slave
holding States Of the United States is hereby
forbidden and Congress is required to pass such
laws as shall effectualy prevent the same
The second section provides: Congress shall
also have power to prohibit the introduction of
slaves from any State not a member of this
Confederacy"
Article fourth, third clause Of second section,
provides: ga slave in one State escaping to
another shall be delivered up on claim Of the
party to whom said slave may belong by the
executive authority of the State in which such
slave may be found and in case of any abduc-
ton or forcible rescue, full compensation, in
Guiding the value of the slave, and all costs and
expenses shall be made to the party by the
State in which such abduction or rescue shall
take place."
Article sixth, second cause, provides: 'The
government hereby instituted shall take imme-
date steps for a settlement Of all matters be-
tween the States forming it and their other late
confederates of the United States of North
America in relation to public property and
the public debt at the time of their. Withdrawal
from them, these States hereby declaring it to
be her wish and earnest desire to adjust every
thing pertaining to common property, common
liability, and common obligations of that union
upon principles of right, Justice and equity, and
good faith.
All the other portions of the instrument are
almost identical with the Constitution of the
United States.
The President was directed to appoint Com
mltCeeS on fOreIgn Affairs, FINANCE, Mttltotry,
Naval Affairs Postal Affairs, Comnierce and
Patents.
The Convention has unanimously elected Hon.
jeff. Davis, President, and lion. A. H. Stephens
Vice. President.
A resolution was adopted by the Convention
appointing committee of three Alabama Depu-
..,es, to inquire and report what terms suita-
BILE buildings in Montgomery can be secured for
the use of the several Executive Departments of
the Confederacy under the Provisional Govern
ment.
An ordinance was passed continuing in force.
until repealed or altered by Congress, all laws
of the United States in force or use until the
first of November last, with the Constitution of
the Provisional Government
It is understood that under. this law a tariff
will be laid on all goods brought from the Uni
ted States.
A resolution was also adopted instructing the
Committee on Finance to report promptly a
tariff for raising revenue to support the Govern
ment.
resolution il Y Rpe q qsba4 cdh ha
ton for the permanent government Of the Con-
federacy.
About two hours We're spent in secret session
to-day. The balance Of the day was spent in
open session.