Stephens was greeted with loud cheers and applause from the spectators.

The President of the Convention was directed to appoint Committees on Foreign Affairs, Finance, Military and Naval Affairs, the Judiciary, Postal Affairs, Commerce, Patents, and Printing.

A bill was passed continuing in force, until repealed or altered by Congress, all the laws of the United States which were in force on the 1st of November, 1860, not inconsistent with the Constitution of the Provisional Govern

ment.

A resolution was adopted instructing the Finance Committee to report promptly a tariff bill for raising a revenue for the support of the Provisional Government.

A resolution was also adopted authorizing the appointment of a Committee to report a Constitution for a permanent Government of the Confederacy.

The name "Confederate States of North America" was also adopted for the Union represented at Montgomery.

At the session on the next day, Mr. Stephens appeared and announced his acceptance of the office of Vice-President, and said:

"I have been notified by the committee of my election as Vice-President of the Provisional Government of the Confederate States of America. The committee requested that I should make known to this body, in a verbal response, my acceptance of the high position I have been called upon to assume, and this I now do in this august presence-before you, Mr. President, before this Congress, and this large concourse of people, under the bright sun and brilliant skies which now smile so felicitously upon us.

"I take occasion to return my most profound acknowledgments for this expression of confidence on the part of this Congress. There are especial reasons why I place an unusually high estimate on it. The considerations which induced me to accept it, I need not state. It is sufficient for me to say that it may be deemed questionable if any good citizens can refuse to discharge any duty which may be assigned them by their country in her hour of need.

"It might be expected that I should indulge in remarks on the state of our public affairsthe dangers which threaten us, and the most advisable measures to be adopted to meet our pressing exigencies; but allow me to say, in the absence of the distinguished gentleman called to the Chief Executive Chair, I think it best that I should refrain from saying any thing on such matters. We may expect him here in a few days-possibly by Wednesdayif he is not providentially detained. When he comes you will hear from him on these difficult questions; and I doubt not we shall cordially and harmoniously concur in any line of policy his superior wisdom and statesmanship may indicate.

"In the mean time, we may be profitably

employed in directing attention to such matters as providing the necessary postal arrangements, making provision for the transfer of the custom-houses from the separate States to the Confederacy, and the imposition of such duties as are necessary to meet the present expected exigencies in the exercise of power, and raise a revenue. We are limited in the latter object to a small duty, not exceeding ten per centum. upon importations. We can also be devoting attention to the Constitution of a permanent Government, stable and durable, which is one of the leading objects of our assembling. "I am now ready to take the oath." The oath was accordingly administered. A committee of two from each State was appointed to form a permanent Constitution for the Confederacy.

On the 12th resolutions were offered to continue in office the revenue officers of the respective States.

It was also resolved "That this Government takes under its charge all questions and difficulties now existing between the sovereign States of this Confederacy and the Government of the United States relating to the occupation of forts, arsenals, navy-yards, custom-houses, and all other public establishments, and the President of this Congress is directed to communicate this resolution to the Governors of the respective States of the Confederacy."

On the 13th of February, the Committee on Naval Affairs, and also the Committee on Military Affairs, were instructed to include in any plans they might propose for the army and navy, provisions for such officers as miglit tender their resignations.

A resolution was also adopted instructing the Committee on Commercial Affairs to inquire and report upon the expediency of repealing the navigation laws.

A debate took place on the subject of a National flag, proposing to make only such changes as might be necessary to distinguish it easily from that of the United States.

Mr. Brooks, in the course of his remarks, said the flag of stars and stripes is the idol of the heart, around which cluster memories of the past which time cannot efface, or cause to grow dim.

Mr. Miles, in reply, said he had regarded from his youth the stars and stripes as the emblem of oppression and tyranny,

The Committee to whom the subject was referred made a report, which was unanimously adopted. It recommended that the flag of the Confederate States should consist of three bars of red and white-the upper red, middle white, lower red. The lower bar should extend the whole width of the flag, and just above it, next to the staff in the upper left hand corner of the flag, should be a blue Union with seven stars in a circle.

The form of Government adopted by the Congress was chiefly objected to, so far as it held out any encouragement for reconstruction, or

any inducement to the Border Slave States to remain in the Union with the North.

On the 15th, Congress made arrangements for the reception and inauguration of Jefferson Davis. An official copy of the Texas secession ordinance was presented, and the deputy present invited to a seat, although the ordinance had not been ratified.

There was then a secret session, during which a resolution was passed removing the injunction of secrecy from an act continuing in office the officers connected with the collection of customs at the time of the adoption of the Constitution of the insurrectionary States, with the salaries and powers as heretofore provided; the compensation not to exceed five thousand dollars. The collectors were required, within two weeks, to execute the same bonds as heretofore, and the subordinates to give bond. One week after the collectors were required to take the oath to discharge their duties and support the Constitution of the Provisional Government. The Secretary of the Treasury had been instructed to report a plan, to go into effect on the first of April, diminishing the expenses of collecting the revenue at each custom-house at least fifty per cent.

On the 16th of February Mr. Davis arrived at Montgomery, to be inaugurated and to enter upon the duties of his office. He was greeted with an ovation, to which he responded in an address reviewing the position of the South. He said: "The time for compromise has now passed, and the South is determined to maintain her position, and make all who oppose her smell Southern powder and feel Southern steel if coercion is persisted in. He had no doubts as to the result. He said we will maintain our rights and government at all hazards. We ask nothing, we want nothing; we will have no complications. If the other States join our Confederation they can freely come in on our terms. Our separation from the old Union is now complete. No compromise, no reconstruction is now to be entertained."

After reaching the Exchange Hotel he again addressed the crowd from the balcony as follows: "Fellow-citizens and brethren of the Confederated States of America-for now we are brethren, not in name merely, but in factmen of one flesh, one bone, one interest, one purpose of identity of domestic institutionswe have henceforth, I trust, a prospect of living together in peace, with our institutions subject to protection and not to defamation. It may be that our career will be ushered in in the midst of a storm; it may be that, as this morning opened with clouds, rain, and mist, we shall have to encounter inconveniences at the beginning; but as the sun rose and lifted the mist, it dispersed the clouds and left us the pure sunlight of heaven. So will progress the Southern Confederacy, and carry us safe into the harbor of constitutional liberty and political equality. We shall fear nothing, because of homogeneity at home and nothing abroad to awe us; be

cause, if war should come, if we must again baptize in blood the principles for which our fathers bled in the Revolution, we shall show that we are not degenerate sons, but will redeem the pledges they gave, preserve the rights they transmitted to us, and prove that Southern valor still shines as bright as in 1776, in 1812, and in every other conflict."

In concluding his speech, Mr. Davis said: "I thank you, my friends, for the kind manifestations of favor and approbation you exhibit on this occasion. Throughout my entire progress to this city I have received the same flattering demonstrations of support. I did not regard them as personal to myself, but tendered to me as the humble representative of the principles and policy of the Confederate States. I will devote to the duties of the high office to which I have been called all I have of heart, of head, and of hand. If, in the progress of events, it shall become necessary that my services be needed in another position-if, to be plain, necessity require that I shall again enter the ranks of soldiers-I hope you will welcome me there. And now, my friends, again thanking you for this manifestation of your approbation, allow me to bid you good night."

The inauguration took place at Montgomery, on the 18th of February. The hill on which the Capitol is situated, was crowded with the wealth and beauty, the soldiers and citizens from the different States. In the evening the city was gorgeously illuminated. The President held a levee at Estelle Hall-bands of music played, fireworks were displayed, and a grand and general demonstration was made.

The cabinet officers of this new Government were as follows: Secretary of State, Robert Toombs; Secretary of the Treasury, Chas. G. Memminger; Secretary of War, L. Pope Walker.

On the 19th, measures were adopted to admit, duty free, all breadstuffs, provisions, munitions of war, or materials therefor, living animals, and agricultural products in their natural state; also goods, wares, and merchandise from the United States purchased before the 1st of March, and imported before the 14th of March. Texas was excepted from the operation of the tariff laws.

On the next day the Departments of War, Navy, Justice, Postal Affairs, State and Treas ury, were organized.

On the 22d an act was unanimously passed declaring the free navigation of the Mississippi River to be established.

Subsequently the nomination of Gustave T. Beauregard, of Louisiana, as Brigadier-General of the Provisional Army, was confirmed.

An act to raise provisional forces for the Confederate States and for other purposes was passed. It directed, among other provisions, that the President should take charge of all the military operations between the Confederacy and other Powers.

An act was also passed to raise money to support the Government. It authorized the

President to borrow $15,000,000, payable in ten years, at an interest of eight per cent. The last section directed an export duty of oneeighth per cent. on each pound of cotton exported after the 1st of August following, to create a fund to liquidate principal and interest of the loan.

The postal system of the Confederate States was adopted on the report of the Committee of Congress, made on the 25th of February.

On Monday, 7th March, an act was passed anthorizing a military force of 100,000 men to be raised. The first section was in these words: SEC. 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That in order to provide speedily forces to repel invasion, maintain the rightful possession of the Confederate States of America in every portion of territory belonging to each State, and to secure the public tranquillity and independence against threatened assault, the President be, and he is hereby, authorized to employ the militia, military, and naval forces of the Confederate States of America, and ask for and accept the services of any number of volunteers, not exceeding one hundred thousand, who may offer their services, either as cavalry, mounted rifle, artillery, or infantry, in such proportion of these several arms as he may deem expedient, to serve for twelve months after they shall be mustered into service, unless sooner discharged.

On the 11th of March the permanent Constitution was adopted by Congress. In nearly all its parts it adopts the precise language, and follows in its articles and sections the order of arrangement of the Constitution of the United States. The parts in which it differs from the latter, either by variations from, or additions thereto, are herewith presented. It begins with the following preamble:

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 to our posterity-invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God-do ordain and establish this Constitution for the Confederate States of America.

The second section of the first article imposed the following restriction on the rights of suffrage in order to correct an abuse which had sprung from the action of certain States in the Union which have granted the right of voting to unnaturalized aliens:

The House of Representatives shall be composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several States; and the electors in each State shall be citizens of the Confederate States, and have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State 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.

In adjusting the basis of representation and direct taxation, "three-fifths of all slaves" were enumerated, as in the Constitution of the United States, which substitutes for the word "slaves" the term "other persons." The number of Representatives given prior to an actual enumeration of the population, appointed to take place within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the Confederate States, and

On the subject of impeachments, the following provision was made:

Speaker and other officers, and shall have the sole The House of Representatives shall choose their power of impeachment, except that any judicial or other Confederate 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 Legisla ture thereof.

It was provided that the Senators of the Confederate States should be chosen by the State Legislatures "at the regular session next immediately preceding the commencement of the term of service."

It was provided that the concurrence of "two-thirds of the whole number" of each House should be necessary to the expulsion of a member.

Congress was authorized to make the following provision in reference to heads of the Executive Departments:

Congress may by law grant to the principal officer in each of the Executive Departments a seat upon the floor of either House, with the privilege of discussing any measures appertaining to his Department.

The President was authorized to make the following discrimination in giving his assent to appropriation bills:

The President may approve any appropriation and disapprove any other appropriation in the same bill. In such case he shall, in signing the bill, designate the appropriations disapproved, and shall return a copy of such appropriations with his objections to the House in which the bill shall have originated, and the same proceeding shall then be had as in case of other bills disapproved by the President.

The following prohibition of the "protective policy" was engrafted in the Constitution in enumerating the powers of Congress:

No bounties shall be granted from the Treasury, nor shall any duties or taxes on importations from foreign nations be laid to promote or foster any branch of industry.

Internal improvements by the Confederate Government were also prohibited:

Congress shall have power to regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the several States, and with the Indian tribes; but neither this nor any other clause contained in the Constitution shall ever be construed to delegate the power to Congress to appropriate money for any internal improvement intended to facilitate commerce; except for the purpose of furnishing lights, beacons, and buoys, and other aids to navigation upon the coasts, and the imtions in river navigation, in all of which cases such provement of harbors and the removing of obstruc

duties shall be laid on the navigation facilitated thereby as may be necessary to pay the costs and expenses thereof.

The Post-Office Department must pay its expenses from its own resources "after the first day of March, 1863."

The importation of negroes of the African race from any foreign country other than the slaveholding States or Territories of the United States of America, is hereby forbidden; and Congress is required to pass such laws as shall effectually prevent the same. Congress shall also have power to prohibit the introduction of slaves from any State not a member of or Territory not belonging to this Confederacy.

The imposition of export duties was restricted by the following provision:

No tax or duty shall be laid on articles exported from any State, except by a vote of two-thirds of both

Houses.

The appropriation of money for other objects than those indicated and estimated for by the several Executive Departments is thus restrained:

Congress shall appropriate no money from the Treasury except by a vote of two-thirds of both Houses, taken by yeas and nays, unless it be asked and estimated for by some one of the Heads of Department, and submitted to Congress by the President, or for the purpose of paying its own expenses and contingencies, or for the payment of claims against the Confederate States, the justice of which shall have been judicially declared by a tribunal for the investigation of claims against the Government, which it is hereby made the duty of Congress to establish.

All bills appropriating money shall specify in Federal currency the exact amount of each appropriation, and the purposes for which it is made; and Congress shall grant no extra compensation to any public contractor, officer, agent, or servant, after such contract shall have been made or such service rendered.

Akin to these regulations was the following provision:

Every law or resolution having the force of law shall relate to but one subject, and that shall be expressed in the title.

time of his election.

Appointments and removals were regulated as follows:

The principal officer in each of the Executive Departments, and all persons connected with the diplomatic service, may be removed from office at the pleasure of the President. All other civil officers of the Executive Department may be removed at any time by the President, or other appointing power, when their services are unnecessary, or for dishonesty, incapacity, inefficiency, misconduct, or neglect of duty; and when so removed, the removal shall be reported to the Senate, together with the reasons therefor.

The President shall have power to fill all vacancies that may happen during the recess of the Senate, by granting commissions which shall expire at the end of their next session; but no person rejected by the Senate shall be reappointed to the same office during their ensuing recess.

The following provisions were made in reference to the rights of transit and sojourn with slave property, recovery of fugitive slaves, &c.

The citizens of each State shall be entitled to all the privileges and immunities of citizens in the several States, and shall have the right of transit and sojourn in any State of this Confederacy, with their slaves and other property; and the right of property in said slaves shall not be thereby impaired.

A person charged in any State with treason, felony, or other crime against the laws of such State, who shall flee from justice, and be found in another State, shall, on demand of the Executive authority of the State from which he fled, be delivered up to be removed to the State having jurisdiction of the crime. No slave or other person held to service or labor in any State or Territory of the Confederate States, under the laws thereof, escaping or lawfully carried into another, shall, in consequence of any law or regulation therein, be discharged from such service or labor, but shall be delivered up on claim of the party to whom such slave belongs, or to whom such service or labor may be due.

No State shall, without the consent of Congress, lay any duty of tonnage, except on sea-going vessels, for the improvement of its rivers and harbors navigated by the said vessels; but such duties shall not conflict with any treaties of the Confederate States with foreign nations; and any surplus of revenue thus derived, shall, after making such improvement, be paid into the common treasury; nor shall any State keep troops or ships of war in time of peace, enter into any agreement or compact with another State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in war, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent danger as will not admit of delay. But when any river divides or flows through two or more States, they may enter into compacts with each other to improve the navigation

thereof.

The President and Vice-President of the insurrectionary States hold office for the term of six years, the President not being recligible. The qualifications of eligibility were as follows: No person except a natural born citizen of the Confederate States, or a citizen thereof at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, or a citizen thereof born in the United States prior to the 20th of December, 1860, shall be eligible to the office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall not have attained the age of thirty-five years, and been fourteen years a resident within the limits

federacy:

lands thereof.

The Confederate States may acquire new territory; and Congress shall have power to legislate and provide governments for the inhabitants of all territory limits of the several States; and may permit them, at belonging to the Confederate States lying without the such times and in such manner as it may by law provide, to form States to be admitted into the Confederacy. In all such territory the institution of negro slavery, as it now exists in the Confederate States, shall be recognized and protected by Congress and by the Territorial government; and the inhabitants of the several Confederate States and Territories shall have the right to take to such Territory any slaves

lawfully held by them in any of the States or Territories of the Confederate States.

Amendments to the Constitution were to be thus initiated and consummated;

Upon the demand of any three States, legally assembled in their several Conventions, the Congress shall summon a Convention of all the States to take into consideration such amendments to the Constitution as the said States shall concur in suggesting at the time when the said demand is made; and should any of the proposed amendments to the Constitution be agreed on by the said Convention-voting by States-and the same be ratified by the Legislatures of two-thirds of the several States, or by Conventions in two-thirds thereof-as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the General Convention they shall thenceforward form a part of this Constitution.

The following temporary provisions were enumerated:

The Government established by this Constitution is the successor of the Provisional Government of the Confederate States of America, and all the laws passed by the latter shall continue in force until the same shall be repealed or modified; and all the officers appointed by the same shall remain in office until their successors are appointed and qualified, or the offices

abolished.

All debts contracted and engagements entered into before the adoption of this Constitution shall be as valid against the Confederate States under this Constitution as under the Provisional Government.

The mode of ratification and the number of States necessary to put the Constitution in force were thus designated:

The ratification of the Conventions of five States shall be sufficient for the establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the same. tion, in the manner before specified, the Congress under the Provisional Constitution shall prescribe the time for holding the election of President and VicePresident, and for the meeting of the Electoral College, and for counting the votes, and inaugurating the President. They shall also prescribe the time for holding the first election of members of Congress under this Constitution, and the time for assembling the same. Until the assembling of such Congress, the Congress under the Provisional Constitution shall continue to exercise the legislative powers granted them; not extending beyond the time limited by the Constitution of the Provisional Government.

When five States shall have ratified this Constitu

An act was also passed authorizing the issue of one million dollars in Treasury notes, and an appropriation bill to meet current expenses.

THE ceremonies at the inauguration of Mr. Lincoln were in some respects the most brilliant and imposing ever witnessed at Washington. Nearly twenty well-drilled military companies of the district, comprising a force of more than two thousand men, were on parade. Georgetown sent companies of cavalry, infantry, and artillery of fine appearance. The troops stationed at the City Hall and Willard's Hotel became objects of attraction to vast numbers of both sexes. At noon the Senate Committee called upon President Buchanan, who proceeded with them to Willard's Hotel to receive the President-elect. The party thus composed, joined by other distinguished citizens, then proceeded, in open carriages, along the avenue at a moderate pace, with military in front and rear, and thousands of private citizens, in carriages, on horseback, and on foot, crowding the broad street. The capitol was reached by passing up on the north side of the grounds, and the party entered the building by the northern door over a temporary planked walk. During the hour and a half previous to the arrival of President Buchanan and the President-elect in the Senate chamber, that hall presented a gayer spectacle than ever before. The usual desks of the senators had been removed, and concentric

lines of ornamental chairs set for the dignitaries of this and other lands with which this country was in bonds of amity and friendship. The inner half-circle on the right was occupied by the judges of the Supreme Court, and by senators. The corresponding half-circle on the extreme left was occupied by the members of the cabinets of Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Lincoln, mingled together, and further on by senators. The concentric circle further back was filled by senators. The next half-circle on the right by the members of the diplomatic corps, all in the full court dress of their respective countries. In the half-circle immediately in the rear of that occupied by the ministers were the secretaries and attachés. The half-circles on the left, corresponding to those occupied by the corps diplomatique, furnished places for senators and governors of States and Territories. Outside of all, on both sides, stood-for there was no further room for seats-the members of the House of Representatives and chief officers of the executive bureaus. The galleries all round the Senate were occupied by ladies.

At a quarter-past one o'clock the President of the United States and the President-elect entered the Senate chamber, preceded by Senator Foot of Vermont, and the marshal of the