The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-10-02

>truggiG. fully 1uetllNlng tne Nou'i II
uprising against persistent Northern! az
ores,ion Abiding to the action OF the
Republican Senators on the peace measures,
he remarks hat their solid vote was "a
blank denial of the Necessity of compromise,
and showed, of course, that they had de-
liberately made up their minds to refuse an.y
negotiations" Senator Douglass declared
the adoption of the Crittenden resolutions
wer!d have stopped secession at the borders
81 South Carolina, and compelled her re
turD 10 the Union. Who can doubt II?
For. tie It remembered, the representatives
Of Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama ard Flor
ia. which were still in the Union, by volng
Tor this plan, committed themselves and
their rcople to it. Secession could not have
turned Il wheel III any State after the south
eln members announced the adoption OF an
equitable plan of adjustment. But as has
been demonstrated. the ~Republlcan leaders
did not desire peace. As Senator Chandler
wrote to Governor Blair-Some of the
manufacturing States think that q .fght
would be awful. Without a little blood
letting, this Union will not, in my opinion,
be worth a curse" And the Michigan Sen
ator was among the chief leaders OF his
party as he IS to this day.
THE NEW CoNFEDERACY.
The fourth Of February, as stated last
week., witnessed the assembling Of the Con
gates frc = South Carolina, Georgia, Florida,
Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, pre-
scented their credentials; while distinguished
visitors FROM all parts of the south crowded
the assembly halls. Howell Cobb was chosen
Speaker. Alabama Legislature voted a
loan of 500, 600 to the provisional Gov
ernment Of the Confederate States, to meet
current expenses. Two or three days later
the Texas delegates arriving, increased the
roll to seven States. North Carolina was
also represented Informally by Messrs. David
L. Swain, Matt w. Ransom, and John J."
Bridgers, who were originally, appointed 70
"a Southern Convention'-called by Ala
bama, but which in the end gave way to the
Confederate Congress. a telegram from
Gen. Ransom to Gov. Ellis, dated February
18th says-"Government established Feb
ruary Sth; everything as we would WISH
Mr.. Meminger, from the Committee onOr-
ganization, or Form of Government, reported
the New Constitution, which was was unani-
mously adopted. 1t was new" in only a few
features; having been modelled, in the main,
upon the old Constitution and Federal poll
ty. These modern improvements now
ever, greatly enhanced it's value;as they while
retaining most Of the cxcellencies, remedied
by the light of experience many, defects and
and weaknesses, of the older Instrument.
1t prohibited the slave trade; prohibited
tariffs and duties as bonuses to special bust
nesses; and prohibited the President from
ever serving more than one term; thus re-
moving all incentive for him to build u, a
Personal Party as Grant did, or barter his
patronage for pledges of support in future
elections, as we see too often done nowadays
in high places, and low. The North has SO
accustomed itself to s~neering at the Jeff
Davis Despotism," that many good people
believe unto this day the design Of the Sc
cesslonlsts was to set up an Empire. Yet
the Confederate Government great weakness
was It's respect for civil regulations; and the
organic law ofthe confederacy was even more
Republican than that of the old Union. This
one term provision of itself cut off all chance
for arbitrary assumptions. For no matter
how popular any President might become,
the constitution forbade his holding more
than his single term, which, moreover, was
heightened to six years in order to lessen the
frequency OF political campaign the great
bane OF our present government. Under the
confederate law, as in England, the Cabinet
officers were allowed to sit in Congress, SO
that, besides suggesting needed legislation
they might be questioned for information,
and called to give account of matters of
doubtful import. Another provision re
quired the President to report to Congress
his reasons for every removal of a civil Off
Ger during his term of Office; thus prevent
ing the changing of faithful officials for pri-
Vate, or caprlclOus. or corrupt reasons. The
right of removal with slaves or other prop
erty, to any portion of the Confederate terri
tory, was, OF course, clearly re-afirmed-
There were other minor changes unnec-
essary to speak Of here.
PROVISIONAL PRESIDENT.
For obvious reasons the election of per
manent President was postponed for one
year, pending the admission of other States.
Meanwhile, Hon. Jefferson Davis, of Missis-
sippi, and Alexander H. Stephens, of Geor-
gia, were chosen as provisional President
and Vice-President of the Provisional Gov
eminent. The intelligence was greeted with
cheers, salutes and bonires, throughout the
South. Mr.. Stephens was at once indicted
into Office; and the same day (Feb. 1lth)
President Lincoln, and President Davis, al
most simultaneously, left home for their