Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1861-10-18
CONSTITUTION
OF THE
Confederate Stafos of America.

= CONSTITUTION
Confederate States of America.
We the people of the Confederate States, each
state acting Ia iis sovereign and independent char
acter, in order to form permanent federal govern
ment establish Justice insure dornesfsc tranqniliy
aud secure the blessings OF liberty 10 Ourselves and
our Notwithstanding the favor and guidance Of
Almighty God--do orlnin and establish this Uensti-
tuten for she Oehieaerats States Of America
ARTICLE i.
SECTION l.
All legislative powers herein delegated shall be
vested IN Congress Of the Confederate States,
which shall consist Of Senate and House of Re-
rEesent,tives.
SECTION D.
1. Tile fIonseef Representatives, shall be compos-
ed of members chosen Every second year by the
pcope Of the several States; and the electors in each
State shall be citzens Of the Confederate States and
have the qualifications requisite for electors Of the
most numerous branch Of the State Legislature bat
no person of foreign birth not citizen of the Con-
federate Stairs shall be allowed to vote for any Of
fcer. civil or political, State or Federal.
O. No person shalt be a Representative, who shall
not have attained the age Of twenty-five years and
be citizen of the Confederate States, and who shall
not when elected be nm inhabitant OF the State in
which he shall be chosen.
\ g. Representatives and Direct Taxes shall be APP
portioned among the several States, which may be
included within the Confedetacy, according 10 their
/ respective numbers, which shall be determined by
1 adding the whole number OF free persons including
those bound TO service for term Of years, end ex-
Guiding Indians not taxed, three -hiths of all slaves
The actual enumeration shall he 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 exceed one for every fifty thousand but each
! State shall have at least one Representative; and
until such enumeration shall be made the State oil
South Carolina shall be entitled to sixthe State Of
Georgia ten--the State of Alabama nine--the State
of Florida two-the State Of Mississippi seven--tht
State of Louisiana six. and the State o. Texas six
4. When vacancies happen in the representation
from any State, the Executive authority Thereof
shall issue writs of election TO fill such vacancies.
! g. The House of Representativesshallc choose theil
Speaker and other officers and shall have the sole
power of Impeachment, except that any judicial Oh
other federal officers resident and acting solely with
in the limits of any State may be impeached by {
vote of two-tbirds of both branches of the Legsla
ture thereof
SECTION g.
i |. The Senate of the Confederate States shall b.
composed of two Senators from each State, chosen
for six years by the Legislature thereof at the regu
lar session next Immediately preceding the com
mencement Of the term of service, and each Sena
tor shall have one vote.
2. Immediately after they shall be assembled il
consequence of the first election they shall be di
vded as equally as may he into three classes. Th
seats of the Senators Of the first class shall be
Gated at the expiration of the second year of TIM
second class at the expiration of the fourth year
of the third class at the expiration of the sixtl
year; so that one-third may be chosen every secon
year; and if vacancies happen by resignation, o
otherwise, during the recess of the legislature o
any State the Executive thereof may make tempo
rarv appointments until the next meeting Of the lie
gisiatnre, which shall then fill such vacancies.
, g. No person shall be Senator who shall nothav
attained the age of thirty years and be citizen Q
the Confederate States; and who shall not whe
elected, he an inhabitantsef the State for which h
shall be chosen.
a. The Vice President of the Confederate State
shall he President of the Senate, but shall have n
vote unless they be equally divided.
i s. The Senate shall choose their other officers
and also a President pro tempore in the absence Q
the Vice President, or when he shall exercise tn
office of President Of the Confederate States.
6. The Senate shall have the sole power to try a
Iimpeachments. When sitting for that purpose, the
shall be on oath or affirmation. When the Pres
, dent of the Confederate States is tried, the Chic
Justice shall preside and no person shall be cor
victed without the concurrence Of two-thrds Of tn
number present.
7. Judgment in cases of impeachment shall nc
extend further than to removal from Office, and dis
qualification 10 hold and enjoy any Office of homo
trust OF profit, under the Confederate States bv
the party convicted shall, nevertheless, be liab
and subject to indictment, trial, judgment and pur
ishment according 10 law.
SECTION 4.
, /. The time places and manner of holding ele
tions for Senators and Representatives shall be PR
scrihcd in each State by the Legislature thereof sui
iect to the provisions Of the Constitution; but II
Congress may, at any time by law, make or alt
such regulations except as to the times and place
of choosing Senators.
g. The Congress shall assemble at least once in e1
) cry yesr; and such meeting shall be on the fir
e Monday in December, unless they shall, by law, a
d point"a different day
SUCTION &.
l. Each House shall be the Judge of the election
d returns aud qualifications of its own members al
o. majority of each shall constitute n quorum TO
business; but smaller number may adjourn fro
day to day, and may he authorized TO compel Il
attendance of absent members in such manner al
under such penalties MS each House may provide.
D. 2 Each House may determine the rules of
Il proceedings, punish its members for disordery co
ID, duct and with the concurrence of twothirds of d
al whole number eSpc member.
3. Each House shall keep journal Of its pr
ceedings and from time to time publish the sam
= excepting suCh parts as may IN ther judgment I
p qurc sccrcsy, and the yeas and nays of the mel
~ bers of either House, on any question, shall, at t
u desire of one-ffth Of those present be entered
u the journal.
"a A. Neither House, during the session Of Congre
NC shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn
more than three days, nor TO any other place th
~ that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.
'' SECTION g.
/. The Senators and Representatives shall recei
" compensation for their services 10 be ascertain
vi by law, and paid out of the treasury of the Co
- ederate States They SHALL in cases, except tire
son, and breach Of the peace be privileged frc
arrest during their attendance at the session
their respective Houses, aud in going to and retuI
% ing from the same and for any speech or debate
W either House they shall not be questioned in
K other place.
2. No Senator or Representative shall, duri
the time for which he was elected, be appointed
III any civil Office under the authority Of the COME,
en- rate States, which shall have been created or I
he vrl,p gbon Iov-o