Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1861-03-29
O h& Uimditator,


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g. M. YO5T, e litor ana Proprietor.
The Permanent Constitution of
the Confederate States.
AS matter of great interest, we would
call attention to the constitution which has
been unanimously agreed upon by the Con-
gress of the Confederate States. In order
to estimate the value of that instrument, we
propose to compare it with the constitution
of the United States, in the chief points of
their difference And, first, we would call
attention to the difference in the respective
preambles.
1. The Preamble Of the new constitution
differs from that of the other; LIST, by in
sertiug the words, "each State acting in its
sovereign and independent character = and
2ndly, inserting the following words towards
the end Invoking the favor and guidance
of Almighty God''-thus avoiding the OBJ
lection often made against the Constitution
of the United States, that it was atheistical,
and In no way acknowledged even the ex-
istence Of Supreme Being.
2. The next important difference is that
by which Congress may, by law, grant to
the principal officer in each of the executive
departments, seat upon the floor of either
House, with the privilege Of discussing any
measures appertaining to his departments"
We regard this great improvement up
on the old system The change has been
taken from England, where the plan of ad-
hitting Cabinet officers upon the floor of
Parliament has worked most admirably
By this means corruption is prevented or
easily exposed, and Congress is enabled to
procure important information, without the
uncertain roundabout method Of passing
resolutions calling upon the Executive for
it.
8. Under the constitution of the United
; States the President must either approve or
veto every law as whole He cannot ap-
prove of part and veto part. This pro-
! vision, in the case particularly of appropri-
alton bills has worked most serious injury.
These bills, which ara generally an onaniuna
gatherum of coed and bad things, Of things
, necessary and things wholly unnecessary,
| Of legitimate appropriations and Others con-
. ally passed near the end of Congress, and
the President is forced to sign them or run
The risk of infinite trouble, delay and en-
barrassment by sending them back with a
veto In this way our federal government
a has been made the hell less prey Of ten thou
sand robkerics. The wise statesmen of the
Confederate States have corrected this evi
0 by incorporating the following provision ii
their constitution:
e "The President may approve any appro
$ priation and disapprove auy other appro
priatioa in the same bill. In such case
: he shall designate the appropriations disap
proved and return a copy of such appropria
lions, with his objections, to the House il
which the bill shall have originated, ano
the same proceedings shalt then be had as
! in the case of other bills disapprovea by the
President" Ii e.) The appropriation vii
be defeated unless repassed by vote of two
thirds of both Houses of Congress.
We regard this one of the most wise and
important changes made by the Southern
Congress.
4. En- Sec. 8. the constitution Of the U.
S. Congress is vested with power ''To lay
and collect taxes, duties, imports and ex-
cises, to pay debts, and provide for the COM
; mon defence and GENERAL WELFARE Of the
United States"
The Southern Constitution gives Con-
gress the power, "To lay and collect taxes,
duties, imposts and excuses for REVENUE Me-
cEssARY to pay the debts, provide for the
common defence and carry On the govern
} ment of the Confederate States; BUT NO
BoUNTIEs SHALL BE GRANTED FRoM THE Urea
sURY, nor shall any duties or taxes on i'm
portations from foreign nations be laid to
promote or foster any branch of industry"
Here the vague power of providing for
the "general welfare that great argument
of Federalists, class legislators and protec-
tionists, is taken away, and the taxes levied
are to be confined to purposes Of revenue.
The government thus leaves every man and
every interest free to take care of itself and
unburdened. Whatever protection is afor-
ded must be incidental. There can be no
class~legislatien; no bounties for catching
fish; no unjust charge upon any particular
interest or section to support some other in
terest or section. They shall have no Nor
rill tariffs in the Confederate States.
S. In regard to the power to appropriate
money for purposes of river and harbor i'm
provements, the following most just and
. wise provision is made.
After giving Congress power to regulate
commerce, &C., the Constitution declares
"But neither His nor any other clause con-
tanned in the Constitution shall ever be con-
strued to delegate the power to Congress to
appropriate money for any internal improve
meut intended to facilitate commerce; except
for the purpose Of furnishing lights, bea-
cons and buoys and other aids to navigation
upon the coasts, and the improvement of
harbors and the removcment of distractions
in river navigation, IN ALL WHICH CASES,
SUCH DUTIES SHALL BE LAID ON THE NAvIGA-
TIoN FACILITATED THEREBY AS MAY BE Me-
cEssARY TO PAY THE COSTS AND EXPENSES
THEREOF"
9th. The Constitution of the Confederate
States gives Congress the power to pass
laws of bankruptcies, but adds the honest
Limitation that ''Nu LAW OF CONGRESS SHALL
DISCHARGE ANY DEBT CONTRACTED BEFORE
THE PASSAGE OF THE SAME"
7th The President and Vice President
of the Confederate States are to hold their
offices for the term of six years and the
President is not to be re-eligible Every
conservative mind will assent to the wisdom
of these changes
/ Sin One Of the most important changes
,,.do IA 'found in the following clause OF the