Montgomery, Feb. 9, 10 p. m.—The Constitution of the Provisional Government has been printed, and is now being made public. The Preamble says:
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 here, 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 of the 1st 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.
The second section provides that the Congress shall also have the power to prohibit the introduction of slaves from any State not a member of this Confederacy.
Article fourth and third clause of second section provides as follows: 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 shall 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, second clause, provides that the Government hereby instituted shall take immediate steps for the settlement of all matters between the States forming it and their other late confederates of the United States in relation to the public property and the public debt, at the time of their withdrawal from them. These States hereby declaring it to be their wish and earnest desire to adjust everything pertaining to the common property, common liability and common obligations of that Union, upon principles of right, justice, equity and good faith.
All the other portions of the Constitution are almost identical with the Constitution of the United States.
The Western Democrat, Charlotte, NC
