Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1861-02-21
Southern Gpnfederatp.
CONSTITUTION
The Provisional Government
OF THE
CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA.

Florida, Alabama, Mississippi aud Louisi
ana, invoking the favor of Almighty God
do hereby, in behalf of these States, ordai1
and establish this Constitution for the Pro
visionaI Government of the same: to con
tinue one year from the Inauguration of tn
President, or until permanent Constitu
tion or Confederation between the sale
States shall be put in operation, whichso
ever shall first occur.
ARTICL LIE I.
SECTION |.
All legislative powers herein delegated
shall be vested in this Congress now assem-
bled, until otherwise ordained.
SECTION 2.
When vacancies happen in the represeu
tation from any State, the same shall b.
filled in such manner as the proper authori
ties of the State shall direct.
SECTION 3.
l. The Congress shall be the judge o
the elections, returns and qualifications O
its members any number of Deputies from
majority of the States, being present
shall constitute quorum to do business
but smaller number may adjourn from
day to day, and may be authorized to com
pei the attendance of the absent members
upon all questions before the Congress, eact
State shall be entitled to one vote, aud shall
be represented by any one or more of it,
Deputies who may be present.
2. The Congress may determine the rules
of IT'S proceeding, punish its members fo
disorderly behavior, and, with the concur
renee of two-thirds, expel member
8. The Congress shall keep journal o
its proceedings, and from time to time pub
lish the same, excepting such parts as may
in their Judgment require secresy and the
yeas and nays of the members on any ques
ton, shall, at the desire of one fifth of those
present, or at the instance of any one State
be entered on the Journal
SECTION 4.
The members of Congress shall receive {
compensation for their service to be ascer
tained by 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 the session of the Con
gress, and in going to and returning from
the same; and for any speech or debate
they shall not be questioned in any Other
place.
SECTION 5.
l. Every bill which shall have passed the
Congress shall, before it become law, be
presented to the President of the Confeder.
acy; if he approve, he shall sign it; but il
not, he shall return it, with his objections,
to the Congress, who shall enter the objec.
tions at large on their journal, and proceed
to reconsider it. If, after such reconsider.
alton, two-thirds Of the Congress shall agree
to pass the bill, it shall become law. But
in all such cases, the vote shall be deter
mined by yeas and nays; and the names Of
the persons voting for and against the bill
shall be entered on the journal. If any
bill shall not be returned by the President
within ten days (Sundays excepted) after
it shall have been presented to him, the
same shall be law, in like manner as if
he had signed it, unless the Congress, by
their adjournment, prevent its return, in
which case it shall not be law. The Presi-
dent may veto any appropriation or app,o,
priations, and approve any other appropria.
tion or appropriations, in the same bill.
2. Every order, resolution or vote, in.
tended to have the force and effect of law,
shall be presented to the President, and be,
fore the same shall take effect, shall be ap.
proved by him, or shall be re.passed by two
thirds of the Congress, according to the
rules and limitations prescribed in the case
of bill.
3. Until the inauguration of the Presi.
dent, all bills, orders, resolutions and votes
adopted by the Congress shall be of full
force without approval by him.
SECTION g.
l. The Congress shall have power to lay
and collect taxes, duties, imposts and ex.
cises, for the revenue necessary to pay the
debts and carry on the Government of the
Confederacy; and all duties, imposts and
excises shall be uniform throughout the
States of the Confederacy. And this Con.
gress shall also exercise executive powers,
until the President is inaugurated:
2. To borrow money on the credit of the
Coufederacy:
3. To regulate commerce with foreign
nations, and among the several States,
and with the Indian tribes:
4. To establish uniform rule of natural.
ization, and uniform laws on the subjec,
of bankruptcies throughout the Confedera.
cy:
5. To coin money, regulate the value
thereof, and of foreign coin, and fix the
standard of weights and measures
6. To provide for the punishment Of
counterfeiting the securities and current coin
of the Confederacy:
7. To establish postofices and post roads
3. To promote the progress of science
and useful arts, by securing, for limited
times, to authors and inventors, the ex.
elusive right to their respective writings
and discoveries:
8. To constitute tribunals inferior to the
supreme court:
TO- To define and punish piracies and
felonies committed on the high seas, and of:
fences against the law Of nations:
II. To declare war, grant letters Of
marque and reprisal, and make rules con-
cerning captures on land and water:
IN L