CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA. The name adopted by the federation of those eleven commonwealths of the United States of America which seceded from the Union in 1861, and were arrayed against the national Govern ment during the Civil War (q.v.). None of the theories of 'State sovereignty' was inconsistent with membership in a properly federated union, and even the extreme advocates of those views recognized the advantages of the essential fea tures of the existing system of national govern ment. Thus, the convention of Smith Carolina, at the time of the adoption of its ordinance of secession, December 20. 1860, expressed a strong desire for the early formation of a new confederation by the States at that time contemplating secession. Three weeks later the convention of Mississippi. at a time, as Davis wrote, "when the last hope of preserving the Union of the Constitution was extinguished." indorsed this proposal, as did also the convention of Florida on January 10th. On the following vention of Georgia, on January 19, and by that of Louisiana, on January 25, with the result that at Montgomery on the appointed day there gath ered delegates from these six States, who organ ized as a Provisional Congress of the Confeder acy. By this body for one year, and thereafter by the more representative bicameral body which succeeded it, were directed the affairs of the new confederation, these bodies undertaking quite as complete an exercise of the more essen tial functions of a national government as had hitherto been undertaken by the old national Congress. Technical objections were dispelled by the exigencies of the situation, and the Con gress was recognized as actually possessing, and as entitled to exercise, the powers of general government throughout the States then and thereafter represented in its membership. The authority and influence thus acquired was en hanced by the presence in its sessions not only of many men who had rendered efficient service in a similar capacity at Washington, but also of men who were at the time recognized as leaders of Southern thought and action, such as Wigfall of Texas, ex-President Tyler, Boger A. Pryor, and James M. Mason, of Virginia ; Rhctt and Barnwell, of South Carolina; Campbell, of Mis sissippi; Toombs, Cobb, and Stephens, of Geor gia; and McRae and Curry, of Alabama. In the first instance, the Congress, as originally organized, was particularly a constituent body, and among its first acts was the adoption. on February 8, in behalf of the six States repre sented, of a temporary constitution of govern ment, to have force for "one year from the in auguration of the President, or until a perma nent constitution or confederation between the said States shall be put in operation, whichsoever shall first occur." The eoareution, however,
went further and assumed to act as the legisla tive body of this new government, on the fol lowing day enacting that all laws of the United States in force in the Confederate States on November 1, 1S60, and not inconsistent with the constitution of the Confederacy, should be con tinued in force until repealed or altered by the Confederate Congress. To the same end, pro vision was made for the continuance in office, at least for a time, of all administrative officials, and in order to hasten the detailed organization of the new national government. the more im portant Congressional committees. upon war, finance, and foreign affairs, were forthwith al).
pointed. The Provisional Congress furthermore assumed the function of naming the chief execu tive officers, and on February 9th chose as Provi sional President of the Confederacy. Jefferson Davis (q.v.), of Mississippi, and as Provisional Vice-President, Alexander H. Stephens (q.v.), of Georgia. 31r. Davis had already been ap pointed to the chief command of the Missis sippi troops, and although seeming strongly to prefer the military service, he relin quished his plans and undertook promptly the duties of the civil office which had come to him thus unsolicited, and in which he was to become recognized as the leader of the Confederacy. His first important act as President, the choice of a cabinet, was controlled rather unduly by political and geographical considerations. Each of the States represented, except that which se cured the Presidency, was allotted a cabinet of ficer, as was also Texas, which at that time was practically, although not formally, in the control of the secessionists. The result was a group of high officials among whom only two were recog nized as men of especial ability—the noted Rob ert Toombs (q.v.), of Georgia, who became Sec retary of State, and Judah R Benjamin (q.v.), of Louisiana. a man of considerable repute as a barrister, who became Attorney-General. The executive departments were promptly organized, although the activity of some. particularly that of the Navy, soon became limited, and the admin istration of public affairs proceeded thenceforth along lines familiar to Americans, and with out unusual incident except such as naturally arose from the instability of the Government, from the gradual overshadowing of the civil branches of Government by the military, and from its final collapse.