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difficulties that distract the country, upon the basis of the
Crittenden Resolutions, as modified by the Virginia Legislature.”
They soon perceived that their mission would be fruitless, and they returned to their homes.
On the 7th a resolution was received by the
Convention, from the Alabama Legislature, placing at the disposal of the “Provisional Government of the
Confederacy of the
Seceding States” the sum of five hundred thousand dollars as a loan, for the purpose of setting the machinery of the new government in motion.
It was accepted with thanks.
The preliminary measures for the formation of that provisional government had been taken.
Mr. Memminger,
Chairman of the
Committee to report a plan, had submitted one.
1 It was discussed that day and a part of the next, in secret session, when the
Constitution of the United States, with some important modifications, was adopted as a form of government for the new “Confederacy,” which was afterward known by the false title of “
Confederate States of America.”
It was a false title, because no States, as
States, were parties to the unholy league.
The “government,” so called, was composed only of a band of confederated traitors, who had usurped the powers and trampled upon the rights of the people, who constitute the
State, and were about to make war upon the
Republic to the hurt of that people.
The Provisional Constitution declared that the
Convention at
Montgomery was a “Congress,” vested with all the legislative powers of that of the
United States.
It provided that the
Provisional President should hold his office for one year, unless superseded by the establishment of a permanent government; that each State should be a judicial district, and that the several district judges should compose the supreme court of the
Confederacy; that the word “Confederacy” should be substituted for “Union,” as used in the
National Constitution; that the
President might veto a separate appropriation without affecting a whole bill; that the African Slave-trade should be prohibited; that the
Congress should be empowered to prohibit the introduction of slaves from any State not a member of the
Confederacy ;
2 that all appropriations should be made upon demands of the
President or heads of departments; and that members of the
Congress might hold offices of honor and emolument under the
Provisional Government.
No mention was made of taxes, excepting those in the form of a tariff for revenue; nor the keeping of troops and ships of war by the States; nor for any ratification of the
Constitution, it being only provisional.
The word “slave” was used where, in the
National Constitution, it is avoided.
The Provisional Government was required to take immediate steps for a settlement of all matters concerning property, between the
United States and the “Confederacy.”
All legislative powers were vested in the “Congress” then assembled, until otherwise ordained.
Only in the above-named features did the
Provisional Constitution adopted by the
Convention differ essentially from the
National Constitution.
Notwithstanding the
Provisional Constitution received the unanimous vote of the
Convention, it did not satisfy all the members.
The violent