February 9, 1861; The Charleston Mercury
MONTGOMERY, February 6, 1861.
Words are certainly very shadowy in their meaning. Whilst the Convention of South Carolina meant one thing, in the resolutions it passed inviting the other Southern States to meet her, to form a Provisional Government – the States accepting the invitation, in the very words of the South Carolina resolutions, mean another. Georgia, Louisiana and Alabama understand them to mean that this Congress shall form and put in motion a Provisional Government by any instrumentalities it may deem expedient, and that it should elect a President and Vice President, and legislate to any extent it pleases to accomplish this end – in fact, that this Congress is like the Congress of 1776. Accordingly, I understand, that after comparing ideas in the Convention, a Committee has been appointed which will report a Provisional Constitution, and a Provisional Government, which will leave in this body all power, by its legislation, to form, establish and carry on a Government in all its operations. In point of ability and efficiency, no body could be organized in the South better entitled to the confidence of the South. What they do, they will do thoroughly. They are very harmonious, I understand, in the great ends they are to accomplish; and it is not doubted that they will gather together all the resources of the South, physical and intellectual; to consummate the policy your State has so gallantly inaugurated. Everybody speaks in praise of your State; but as soon as Fort Sumter is mentioned, they are dumb, at least to me.
The Committee on the Provisional Government is expected to report today. If they do, before sunset you will have a Confederacy with a Constitution and Government, fully competent to defend it.
JEFFERSON DAVIS will most probably be elected the President, and a Georgian, Mr. COBB or Mr. TOOMBS, the Vice President of the Confederacy. Your delegation seem to be wisely pushing forward others rather than themselves, I presume, that the great cause they are engaged in may not be injured by any personal aspirations of theirs.
The Convention was in secret session yesterday until late in the evening. They meet today at 12 m.