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DELEGATES TO THE MONTGOMERY CONVENTION, ALABAMA,

FEBRUARY 4TH.

ALABAMA.-Robert II. Smith, Colin J. McRae, W. R. Chilton, David P. Lewis, Richard W. Walker, John Gill, S. F. Hale, Thomas Fearn, J. L. M. Curry.

FLORIDA.—Jackson Morton, J. Patton Anderson, James Powers.

GEORGIA.-Robert Toombs, Francis Barton, Martin Crawford, Judge Nesbitt, Benjamin Hill, Howell Cobb, Augustus R. Wright, Thomas R. R. Cobb, Augustus Keenan, A. H. Stephens.

LOUISIANA.-John Perkins, Jr., C. M. Conrad, Duncan F. Kenner, A. Declouet, E. Sparrow, Henry Marshall.

MISSISSIPPI-Wiley P. Harris, W. S. Wilson, A. M. Clayton, Walker Brooke, W. S. Barry, J. T. Harrison, J. A. P. Campbell.

SOUTH CAROLINA.-T. J. Withers, R. B. Rhett, Jr., L. M. Keitt, W. W. Boyce, James Chestnut, Jr., R. W. Barnwell, G. G. Memminger.

Three commissioners from North Carolina, sent to "effect an honorable and amicable adjustment of all the difficulties that disturb the country, upon the basis of the Crittenden Resolutions," were admitted to seats in the convention.

After some, discussion the convention adopted provisionally the Constitution of the United States, with some important changes, adapted to the altered circumstances and peculiar views of th seceding States. The preamble reads as follows:

"We, the deputies of the sovereign and independent States of South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, invoking the favor of Almighty God, do hereby, in behalf of these States, ordain and establish this constitution for the provisional government of the same, to continue one year from the inauguration of the President, or until a permanent constitution or confederation between the said States shall be put in operation, whichsoever shall first occur."

The seventh section, first article, is as follows:

"The importation of African negroes from any foreign country other than the Slaveholding States of the United States, is hereby forbidden, and Congress is required to pass such laws as shall effectually prevent the same.

"Article second.-Congress shall also have power to prohibit the introduction of slaves from any State not a member of this Confederacy."

Article fourth, of the third clause, of the second section, says :

"A slave in one State escaping to another, shall be delivered up on the claim of the party, to whom said slave may belong, by the executive authority of the State in which such slave may be found; and in case of any abduction or forcible rescue, full compensation, including the value of the slave, and all costs and expenses, shall be made to the party by the State in which such abduction or rescue shall take place."

Article sixth, of the second clause, says :

"The government hereby instituted shall take immediate steps for the settlement of all matters between the States forming it, and their late confederates of the United States, in relation to the public property and public debt at the time of their withdrawal from them; these States hereby declaring it to be their wish and earnest desire to adjust every thing pertaining to the common property, common liabilities, and common obligations of that union, upon principles of right, justice, equity, and good faith."

The tariff clause provides that

"The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises for 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 Confederacy."

This was adopted on February 9th. Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi, was elected President, and Alexander H. Stephens, of Georgia, VicePresident, by unanimous votes.

The inauguration of Mr. Davis took place February 18th. In his inaugural address, he stated that the change of the government illustrates the American idea of the consent of the governed, elaborated at great length and with considerable tact the popular State-rights views of the secession leaders, and defined the prospects and policy of the new confederation.

On the 21st, he nominated the following members of his cabinet: Secretary of State-Robert Toombs; Secretary of the TreasuryC. J. Memminger; Secretary of War-L. Pope Walker; Secretary of the Navy-Stephen R. Mallory; Attorney-General-Judah P. Benjamin; Postmaster-General-John H. Reagan; all of whom were confirmed.

Acts were adopted by the Congress, taking charge of all questions with the United States in relation to public property; continuing in force all laws of the United States, not inconsistent with the new constitution, and continuing in office all incumbents with the same duties and salaries; levying duties on goods coming from the United States, unless shipped before March 28th; and authorizing a loan of fifteen million dollars, secured by an export duty on cotton.

On the 11th of March a permanent constitution was unanimously adopted, which was substantially a copy of the Federal Constitution. The preamble reads, "We, the people of the Confederate States, each State acting in its sovereign and independent character," &c.; the President and Vice-President were to be chosen for six years, and to be ineligible for re-election while in office; cabinet ministers were allowed seats in Congress, with the privilege of debating; the term slave was studiously paraded where, in the Federal Constitution, it is expressed by a paraphrase; and the instrument provided that the vote of five States should suffice for its ratification.

The first measures of the Confederate Congress were evidently intended to exhibit to the world moderation and a disposition to conciliate. The renewed condemnation of the slave-trade was almost unanimously conceded, no doubt to set the Confederacy morally right before society. The next important measure was evidently for the benefit of the Western States; it declared the navigation of the Mississippi free to any State on its borders, or the borders of its navigable tributaries. This enactment was a necessity, even in the event of success attending the Southern movement. It is impossible to imagine that the Western States would ever permit their chief outlet to the ocean to be closed by the tourniquet of a foreign custom-house. Even in Europe, the Danube, which passes through the territories of various and often hostile races, has been made free. The people living on the head-waters of the Mississippi, on the Ohio, the Missouri, and even the Arkansas, would be most indignant if any attempt were made to interfere with the traffic between the Gulf and the heart of the American continent. Hence the Confederate Congress enacted that all ships and boats which may enter the waters of the Mississippi, within the limits

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