Provisional Confederate States Constitution - Interpretations

Interpretations

In his inaugural address, Jefferson Davis said: “We have changed the constituent parts but not the system of government. The Constitution framed by our fathers is that of these Confederate States” and that it differed “only from that of our fathers insofar as it is explanatory of their well-known intent…” Some scholars agree with Davis that the Provisional Constitution sought to clarify many of the ambiguities of the original Constitution. The language of the constitution, however, leads most historians to view the Provisional Constitution as an attempt to grant greater power to the states. For instance, in the preamble, “We the people” is replaced with “We the deputies of the sovereign and independent States.” Words such as “delegated” and “expressly granted” were also used to emphasize the power of the states within the Confederacy.