Confederate States of America, The name adopted by the Southern States when they seceded from the Union and formed a government at Montgomery, Ala., Feb. 4, 1861. The Constitution of the Confederate States was modeled after that of the Federal Constitution, and in some important differences has won the approval of even Northern statesmen. It recognized Almighty God and
invoked His favor and guidance. It guarded carefully the doctrine of the "sovereignty of each State." It expressly forbade the slave trade, or importation of slaves from any foreign country other than the slaveholding States and Territories of the United States. It forbade "bounties' or "trusts" of any kind, and provided a "tariff for revenue." It gave Cabinet offiers the privileges of the floors of its Congress, allowed the President to veto any part of a bill and approve the remainder, giving his reasons for such action, and fixed the term of office of the President at six years and made him ineligible for a second term.
Entry from Everybody's Cyclopedia,
1912.