THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA. The first legislative move toward a Southern Confederacy was the Convention that met at Columbia, South Carolina, December 17, 1860, and (on account of epidemic), adjourned December 18 to Charleston, South Carolina, where, December 20, 1860, the following ordinance was passed : We, the people of the State of South Carolina, in convention assembled, do declare and ordain, and it is hereby declared and ordained, that the ordinance adopted by us in convention, on the twenty-third day of May, in the year of our Lord 1788, whereby the Constitution of the United States was ratified, and also all acts and parts of acts of the General Assembly of this State ratifying amendments of the said Constitution, are hereby repealed; and that the Union now subsisting between South Carolina and other States, under the name of the United States of America, is hereby dissolved. February 4, 1861. Congress of delegates of the seceding States, called at the instance of South Carolina, convened at Montgomery, Alabama. Howell Cobb of Georgia elected Chairman (ex-Speaker of the XXXI Congress U. S. A.), J. J. Hooper of Alabama, Secretary. South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana represented; Texas delegates did not arrive until after the organization of the Provisional Government. February 8, 1861. Provisional Constitution adopted. "to continue one year from the inauguration of the President, or until a permanent Constitution or Confederation between the said States shall put in operation, whichsoever shall first occur." This Constitution gave the name to the Confederacy as "The Confederate States of America." It had been suggested to name it "Washington Republic." "In the beginning and throughout the contest, the object of the 'Confederates' was to maintain the separate sovereignty of each State, and right of self-government, which that necessarily carries with it. The object of the Federals, on the contrary, was to maintain a centralized sovereignty over all the States on both sides." -Stephens's "War between the States," Vol. II., p. 426. February 9, 1861. Election by the Provisional Government of the chief executive officers. President, JEFFERSON DAVIS of Mississippi. Vice-President, ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS of Georgia. Mr. Stephens was a delegate to the Convention from Georgia. Possible candidates for the presidential nomination, Robert Toombs and Howell Cobb. February 18, 1861. Jefferson Davis inaugurated President at the State House, Montgomery, Alabama. Oath of office administered at the close of his inaugural address by Howell Cobb of Georgia, as President of the Congress. First Cabinet. Department of State, ROBERT TOOMBS, Secretary. Department of Justice, JUDAH P. BENJAMIN, Attorney-General. [See table page 104 for date March 11, 1861. Constitution for permanent government adopted unanimously by Congress at Montgomery. of ratification by each State.] May 24, 1861. Government removed to Richmond, Virginia. November 6, 1861. Election of President and Vice-President, for term of six years, commencing February 22, 1862. Jefferson Davis elected as President. Alexander H. Stephens elected as Vice-President. February 22, 1862. Organization under the permanent Constitution. Jefferson Davis inaugurated as President at Richmond, Virginia. The Confederate Provisional Congress held five sessions: First session, Montgomery, Ala., Feb. 4, 1861, to Mar. 16, 1861. July 20, 1861, to Aug. 31, 1861. The Permanent Constitution had two Congresses. FIRST CONGRESS. First session, Feb. 22, 1862, to Apr. 22, 1862. First session, May 2, 1864, to June 15, 1864. There were one hundred members of the lower house of the Provisional Congress. There was no Senate until 1862. The first Senate was complete, two Senators from each State. At its best, Congress numbered twenty-six in the Senate, and one hundred and six in the House. At the first meeting of the Provisional Congress, the delegates from the following States numbered: South Carolina 8, Georgia 10, Alabama 9, Mississippi 7, Louisiana 5, Florida 3. The Texas delegates, numbering 7, took seats at first session, March 2, 1861; Arkansas 5, Virginia 8, and Tennessee 9, in May, 1861; North Carolina 10, in July, 1861; Kentucky 4 and Missouri 7, in December, 1861. Kentucky and Missouri were represented, though as States they never seceded. The Confederates States government lasted four years, one month, and fourteen days. June 8, 1861 North Carolina... May 21, 1861 unanimous May 21, 1861 South Carolina... Dec. 20, 1860 unanimous Apr. 3, 1861 114 May 29, 1865 Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland, and Delaware failed to pass an Ordinance of Secession, so declared themselves neutral. All the States represented in both houses of the United States Congress, May 23, 1872. CONSTITUTION OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA. We, the People of the Confederate States, each State acting in its Sovereign and Independent character, in order to form a Permanent Federal Government, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God-do ordain and establish this Constitution for the Confederate States of America. ARTICLE 1. SECTION I. All legislative powers herein delegated shall be vested in a Congress of the Confederate States, which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives. SECTION II. 1. The House of Representatives shall be composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several States, and have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the Legislature; but no person of foreign birth, not a citizen of the Confederate States, shall be allowed to vote for any officer, civil or political, State or Federal. 1 Popular vote for separation 104,019, against 47,238. 2. No person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained the age of twentyfive years, and be a citizen of the Confederate States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen. 3. Representatives and Direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States, which may be included within this Confederacy, according to their respective numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole number of free persons, including those bound to service for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all slaves. The actual enumeration shall be 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 as 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 of South Carolina shall be entitled to choose six, the State of Georgia ten, the State of Alabama nine, the State of Florida two, the State of Mississippi seven, the State of Louisiana six, and the State of 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. 5. The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and other officers; and shall have the sole power of impeachment; except that any Judicial or other Federal officer, resident and acting solely within the limits of any State, may be impeached by a vote of two thirds of both branches of the Legislature thereof. SECTION III. 1. The Senate of the Confederate States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen for six years by the Legislature thereof, at the regular session next immediately preceding the commencement of the term of service; and each Senator shall have one vote. 2. Immediately after they shall be assembled, in consequence of the first election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three classes. The seats of the Senators of the first class shall be vacated at the expiration of the second year, of the second class at the expiration of the fourth year, and of the third class at the expiration of the sixth year; so that one third may be chosen every second year, and if vacancies happen by resignation, or otherwise, during the recess of the Legislature of any State, the Executive thereof may make temporary appointments until the next meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such vacancies. 3. No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained the age of thirty years, and be a citizen of the Confederate States; and who shall not when elected, be an inhabitant of the State for which he shall be chosen. 4. The Vice-President of the Confederate States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided. 5. The Senate shall choose their other oflicers and also a President pro tempore in the absence of the Vice-President, or when he shall exercise the office of President of the Confederate States. 6. The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. When sitting for that purpose, they shall be on an oath or affirmation. When the President of the Confederate States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside; and no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two thirds of the members present. 7. Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust, or profit, under the Confederate States, but the party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment and punishment according to law. SECTION IV. 1. The times, place and manner of holding elections for Senators and Representatives shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof, subject to the provisions of this Constitution; but the Congress may at any time, by law, make or alter such regulations, except as to the times and places of choosing Senators. 2. The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year; and such meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by law, appoint a different day. SECTION V. 1. Each House shall be the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members, and a majority of each shall constitute a quorum to do business, but a sinaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner and under such penalties as each House may provide. 2. Each House may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and with the concurrence of two thirds of the whole number, expel a member. 3. Each House shall keep a Journal of its proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such parts as may in their judgment require secrecy; and the Yeas and Nays of the members of either House, on any question, shall, at the desire of one fifth of those present, be entered on the Journal. 4. Neither House, during the session of Congress shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting. SECTION VI. 1. The Senators and Representatives shall receive a compensation for their services, to be ascertained by law, and paid out of the treasury of the Confederate States. They shall in all cases, except treason, felony and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at the session of their respective Houses, and in going |