February 8, 1861; The Charleston Mercury
MONTGOMERY, February 4.
The Convention (or as it is here called), the Congress, will meet today in the Senate Chamber of the Capitol, which, I understand, has been handsomely fitted up for their accommodation. It will probably not organize today, as the Louisiana and Texas delegation have not arrived. Your reporter will have but little to report about, for it is expected that the Congress will hold their sessions secret. But the fact is, the state of things are nearly as well known by outsiders as by the actors themselves. The lobby of the Exchange is a pretty respectable conversational Parliament. I learned from this august body that the Georgia project (which I detailed to you yesterday) for a Provisional Government, is by no means confined to the Georgia members. I heard two distinguished Alabamians, not members, however, of the Convention, strenuously advocating it as the only practical project for a Provisional Government. They argued thus: – this Convention was ordered by the several States, to establish, not a Provisional Constitution merely, but a Provisional Government. Whatever powers, therefore, are necessary to put into operation said Government, the Convention possesses. It can elect a President, and pass all laws necessary to make an efficient Executive. It can raise armies, and legislate on all matters the Provisional Government was established to secure. It is impossible, from the condition of the country, that a Provisional Constitution can be adopted, and be put into operation by the action of the State Convention, before the 4th of March next. It will take three weeks to bring together the members of the State Conventions in Alabama, Mississippi and Texas. The streams, from the late rains, are all high – the roads are nearly impassable in some counties, and the mails reach their destination sometimes a fortnight after they are due. Under such circumstances, the Convention can only obey the direction to form a Provisional Government, prior the 4th of March, by acting itself. Such is the argument, and I think it will carry a majority of the Convention. Your delegation, I understand, say that your Convention never contemplated the action of this Convention, any further than to frame the fundamental law of the Government, provisional or permanent; and that it supposed that the election to the Executive as well as Legislative Departments of the Provisional Government was to be by the several State Conventions. I tell you what I hear in our Parliament, and you must take it for what it is worth.
I think there is no doubt that the Hon. JEFFERSON DAVIS will be chosen the President of the Confederacy. Fort Sumter and Fort Pickens will elect him.
P.S. – EVENING. – You will have elsewhere the proceedings of this morning. Everything went off with great harmony, dignity and impressiveness. I think the spirit of the Convention is as high as it was harmonious and cheerful.
The Legislature of Alabama has today passed a resolution putting five hundred thousand dollars at the disposition of the Convention. Is not this glorious?