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

within every subsequent term of ten years, was as follows:

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 Mis. sissippi seven, the State of Louisiana six, and the State of Texas six.

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

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 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 Legislature 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 improvement of harbors and the removing of obstructions in river navigation, in all of which cases such duties shall be laid on the navigation facilitated thereby as may be necessary to pay the costs and expenses thereof.

66

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 servico 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 reeligible. 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:

The Congress shall have power to dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations concerning the property of the Confederate States, including the 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 shali 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.

When five States shall have ratified this Constitu

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 Col lege, 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.

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

District of Columbia, and followed by Senators Baker and Pearce. They took seats immediately in front of the clerk's desk, facing outward; President Buchanan having the President-elect on his right, and the senators equally distributed right and left.

In a few minutes Vice-President Hamlin, who had been previously installed, ordered the reading of the order of procession to the platform on the east of the capitol, and the line was formed, the marshal of the District of Columbia leading. Then followed Chief Justice Taney and the judges of the Supreme Court, the sergeant-at-arms of the Senate, the Committee of Arrangements of the Senate, the President of the United States and President-elect, Vice-President of the United States and Senate, the members of the diplomatic corps, governors of States and Territories, and members of the House of Representatives. In this order the procession marched to the platform erected in the usual position over the main steps on the east front of the capitol, where a temporary covering had been placed to protect the President-elect from possible rain during the reading of his inaugural address. The greater part of an hour was occupied in seating the procession on the platform, and in the delivery of the address of Mr. Lincoln, which he read with a clear, loud, and distinct voice, quite intelligible to at least ten thousand persons below him. At close of the address Mr. Lincoln took the oath of office from the venerable chief justice of the Supreme Court. After the ceremony of inauguration had been completed the President and ex-President retired by the same avenue, and the procession, or the military part of it,

marched to the executive mansion. On arriving at the President's house Mr. Lincoln met Gen. Scott, by whom he was warmly greeted, and then the doors of the house were opened, and thousands of persons rapidly passed through, shaking hands with the President, who stood in the reception-room for that purpose. In this simple and quiet manner was the change of

rulers made.

At Montgomery, on the other hand, commissioners were now appointed to the courts of Europe and to the Federal Government. The latter arrived at Washington on the 5th of March. They were John Forsyth, Martin J. Crawford, and A. B. Roman, appointed under a resolution of Congress requesting it, and for the purpose of making a settlement of all questions of disagreement between the Government of the United States and that of the Confederate States "upon principles of right, justice, equity, and good faith." Upon the arrival of the commissioners at Washington, an informal notice was given to the Secretary of State, and the explanation of the object of their mission was postponed to the 12th of March. On that day they addressed Secretary Seward, informing him of the purpose of their arrival, and stating their wish to make to the Government of the United States overtures for

the opening of negotiations, and assuring that Government that the President, Congress, and people of the Confederate States desired a peaceful solution of the questions of disagreement between them; and that it was neither their interest nor their wish to make any demand which was not founded on the strictest principles of justice, nor to do any act of injury to their late sister States.

A memorandum, bearing date March 15th, was delivered, as the reply to this communication, on the 8th of April, and then upon the request of the secretary of the commissioners, for an answer to their note. This length of time was permitted to elapse by the commissioners, who waived all questions of form with the design of avoiding war if possible. All negotiation, upon the basis on which the commissioners desired to place it, failed. Official intercourse with them was declined by Secretary Seward.

Meanwhile the United States Government had prepared to send supplies to the handful of troops besieged in Fort Sumter. Notice of this intention was given to the Governor of South Carolina, and if the Confederate Government was in earnest in what had been done, the hour had come when the sword must be drawn.

On the 8th of April, the following telegraphic correspondence commenced between the Secretary of War for the insurrectionary States and the commander of their forces at Charleston harbor:

CHARLESTON, April 8th.

L. P. Walker, Secretary of War:

An authorized messenger from President Lincoln just informed Governor Pickens and myself that provisions will be sent to Fort Sumter peaceably, or otherwise by force. G. T. BEAUREGARD.

MONTGOMERY, 10th.

Gen. G. T. Beauregard, Charleston:

If you have no doubt of the authorized character of the agent who communicated to you the intention of the Washington Government to supply Fort Sumter by force, you will at once demand its evacuation; and if this is refused, proceed in such a manner as you may determine, to reduce it. Answer.

L. P. WALKER, Secretary of War. CHARLESTON, April 10. L. P. Walker, Secretary of War: The demand will be made to-morrow at twelve G. T. BEAUREGARD. MONTGOMERY, April 10.

o'clock.

General Beauregard, Charleston:

Unless there are especial reasons connected with your own condition, it is considered proper that you should make the demand at an early hour. L. P. WALKER, Secretary of War. CHARLESTON, April 10.

L. P. Walker, Secretary of War:
The reasons are special for twelve o'clock.
G. T. BEAUREGARD.
CHARLESTON, April 11, 1861.
at 2 P. M., and until 6 was
G. T. BEAUREGARD.
MONTGOMERY, April 11, 1861.

To Hon. L. P. Walker :

The demand was sent allowed for the answer.

General Beauregard, Charleston: Telegraph the reply of Major Anderson.

L. P. WALKER.

Major Anderson replies: "I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication demanding the evacuation of this fort, and to say in reply thereto that it is a demand with which I regret that my sense of honor and of my obligations to my Government prevent my compliance." He adds verbally, "I will await the first shot, and, if you do not batter us to pieces, we will be starved out in a few days." G. T. BEAUREGARD. MONTGOMERY, April 11, 1861.

To General Beauregard :

Do not desire needlessly to bombard Fort Sumter. If Major Anderson will state the time at which, as indicated by himself, he will evacuate, and agree that in the mean time he will not use his guns against us unless ours should be employed against Fort Sumter, you are authorized thus to avoid the effusion of blood. If this or its equivalent be refused, reduce the fort, as your judgment decides to be the most practicable.

To Hon. L. P. Walker; He would not consent.

L. P. WALKER. CHARLESTON, April 12, 1861.

I write to-day.

G. T. BEAUREGARD. CHARLESTON, April 12, 1861. To Hon. L. P. Walker: We opened fire at 4:30. G. T. BEAUREGARD. Vigorous operations had been commenced on Fort Sumter, which is one of the defences of Charleston, in the month of August, 1860, with a view of placing it in a good defensive position as soon as possible. The casemate arches supporting the second tier of guns were all turned; the granite flagging for the second tier was laid, on the right face of the work; the floors laid, and the iron stairways put up in the east barrack; the traverse circle of the first tier of guns reset; the blue-stone flagging laid in all the gun-rooms of the right and left faces of the first tier; and the construction of the embrasure of the second tier commenced, at the time that the fort was occupied by Major Anderson. Then the fears of an immediate attack and disloyal feelings induced the greater portion of the engineer corps to leave. But those that remained of this corps, fifty-five in number, reduced toward the end of the investment to thirty-five, were made very effective in preparing for a vigorous defence.

This fort was occupied by Major Anderson on the night of the 26th of December. It is the largest of the forts in Charleston harbor. It is a work of solid masonry, octagonal in form, and pierced on the north, east, and west sides with a double row of port-holes for the heaviest guns, and on the south, or land side, in addition to openings for guns, loop-holes for musketry. It stands in the middle of the harbor, like a monster on the bosom of the waters, and near the edge of the ship channel. The armament consists of one hundred and forty guns, many of them being the formidable ten-inch columbiads. The wharf, or landing, is on the south side, and exposed to a cross-fire from all the openings on that side. At twelve o'clock on the 27th, the stars and stripes were hoisted over the fort, and Charleston knew for the first time that Major Anderson was in full pos

R. Anderson.... Major 1st Artil'y July 1, '25 Ky.
8. W. Crawford. As'tSurgeon Med. Staff M'h 10, 51 Penn.
A. Doubleday... Captain..... 1st Artily July 1, 42 N. Y.
T. Seymour..... Captain... 1st Artily July 1, '46 Vt.
Theo. Talbot.... 1st Lieut...1st rtily M'y 22, 47 D. C.
Jeff. C. Davis... 1st Lieut...ist Arly Je 17, '48 Ind.
J. N. Hall.... 2d Lieut.... 1st Artily July 1, 59 N. Y.
J. G. Foster.....Captain. Engineers July 1, 46 N. H.
G. W. Snyder... 1st Lieut... Engineers July 1, '56 N. Y.
R. K. Meade.... 2d Lieut.... Engineers July 1, 57 Va.

Officers, 10; Band, 15; Artillerists, 55. Total, 80.

There were in addition fifty-five of the engi neer corps, which was subsequently reduced, as before mentioned, to thirty-five. This movement on the part of Major Anderson created great excitement in Charleston. The State authorities immediately commenced the preparation of batteries to reduce the fort, and also opened negotiations for its surrender. An effort had been made by the Government to send provisions to the garrison in the fort. The Star of the West arrived off Charleston on Jan. 9th, and attempted to enter the harbor, but being fired on she withdrew.

Governor Pickens first demanded a surrender of the fort from Major Anderson. He replied, on the 11th of January, that he had "no power to comply with such a demand." On the same day a demand on the President for the fort was despatched to Washington by J. W. Hayne, envoy of South Carolina. On his arrival, he was addressed by several Senators from the. other seceded States, under date of January 15th. They desired him to postpone for a time the delivery of the letter with which he was charged to the President of the United States, and urged their community of interest, of destiny, and of position, as a reason why he should postpone action, and allow time for consultation. He agreed to do this, upon the condition that, "until he can hear from his Government, no reenforcements shall be sent to Fort Sumter, pledging himself that, in the mean time, no attack shall be made upon that fort."

The Senators, through Messrs. Fitzpatrick, Mallory, and Slidell, transmitted the correspondence between them and Mr. Hayne to the President, asking him to take into consideration the substance of the said correspondence. The reply came through Mr. Holt, who gave no pledge that he would not attempt to reenforce Fort Sumter. The only remark was, that it was not at present deemed necessary to reënforce Fort Sumter, but, if deemed necessary, every effort would be made to reenforce it.

The Senators to whom this was addressed did not regard it as satisfactory, but told Mr. Hayne that they felt certain that at present no attempt would be made to reenforce Sumter, and upon their judgment he postponed the deli ery of his letter to the President. On the 24th, he stated to the Senators, that he had,