The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-02-20
co N S T. I T u T I O N
FOR THE
Provisional Government
OF THE
Confederate States of America.

.and Louis, ana, invoking the favor of ALI
mighty God, do hereby in behalf Of these
States, ordain aud establish this Constitu
iiou for the Provisional Government Of
the same to continue one year from the
Inauguration of the President, or until a
permanent Constitution or Confederation
between the salo States shall b., put in
operation, Whatsoever shall first occur.
ARTlCL LEI.
SECTION !.
All legislative powers herein delegated
shall be vested in this Congress now as-
, sembled, until otherwise ordained.
SECTION 2.
When vacancies happen in the repre-
serta,ion from any State, the same shall
pe filled in such manner as the proper
authorities OF the State shall direct.
SECTION 8.
l. The Congress shall be the judge Of
the elections, returns and qualifications Of
it's menhers suy number Of Deputies
from majority OF the States, being pres
eDt, shall constitute quorum 10 do busi'
ness but a smaller number may adjourn
from day TO day, aud may be authorized
TO compel the attendance of absent mem.
bers upon ali questions before the Con-
gress, each State shnII be entitled TO one
vote, aud shall be represented by any
one or more Of its Deputies who may be
present.
2 The Congress may determine the
rules OF It's proceedings, punish its mem
befs tor disorderly behavior, and, with
the concurrence OF two thirds, expel
member.
8. The Congress shall keep journal
OF its proceedings, and from time to time
publish tue same, excepting such parts as
may IN their judgment require secrecy
and the yeas and nays o: the members on
any question, shall, at the desire Of one
fifth of those present, or at the instance
OF any one State, be entered on the jour
nal.
SECTION 4.
The members ot Congress shall receive
a compensation for IbeIr service TO bs AS
certn.ped ny law, and paid out of the
treasury Of The Confederacy. They shall
in all cases, except treason, felony and
breach OF The peace, be privileged from
arrest during their attendance at tue ses-
slon OF the Congress. and in gong to and
returning from the same aud for auy
speech or debate, they shall not be ques
toned il any other place.
SECTION 5.
Every bill which shall have passed
the Congress shall, before it become
law, Ls presented TO the P'esideut Of the
Coniederacy II he approve. he shall sign
1t; but II not, he shall return 1t, with his
objections, to the Congress-, who shalt en-,
ter the objections AT large on iheiI JOUR-
nal, and proceed to reconsider it. Ii, al
ter such reconsideration, two thirds Of the
Congress shall agree to pass the bill. it
shall become law. But IN ali such ca
ses, the lie shall be determined by yeas
and nays and the names OF the persons
voting for and against the bill shall be
entered OF the journal. If any bill shall
not be returned by the President within
ten days Sundays excepted) after il shall
have been psesenled to him, the same
shall be law, in like manner AS il he
had signed IL, unless the Congress, by
tbsir adjournment, prevent its return, in
which case il shall not oe law. The
President may veto any appropriation or
appropriations, and approve any other
appropriation or appropriations, In the
same bill.
2. Every order, resolution or vote, in.
tended TO have the force and effect of a
law, shall be presented to the President,
and before the same shall take effect.
shall DO approved by him, or beirg dis
approved by him. shall be re passed by
two thirds Of tie Congress, according to
the rules and limitations prescribed in the
case Of b II.
8. Unit, the inauguration Of the Pres,.
dent, all bills, orders, resolutions and
votes adopted by the Congress shall be
OF full force without approval by him.
SECTION @.
!. The congress shall have power to
ssad eolIec. taxes, duties, imports and
Uses, tor the revenue necessary TO pay
/ debts and carry on the Government
the Oonfederacy and all duties, i'm
kosts and excises shall be uniform
sbroughout the State Of the Coufederacy.
4 And thin Congress sbaIl also exercise eI.
4 scu,ivs powers, until the President is in
n HauRufateO
= 2. To borrow money on the credi, of
the Confederacy
8. To regulate commerce with foreign
patiops, and among the several States.
and with the Indian tribes
4. To establish q DniforIn rule OF natu.
alization, aud uniform laws on the subject
Df bankruptcies throughout the Copfeder
icy:
8. To coin money. regulate the value
thereof snd Of foreign coin, and 6x the
ptsndard Of weights and measures
0. To provide Tor the punishment OF
; scoun;erfsiting the securities and current
c1ipyoi the Confsdssacy
e2ea ablish posiofices and post
Ats the progress Of science
NY securing, for limited
aud inventors, the sx-