The Provisional Congress of the Confederate States, also known as the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States of America, was a

congress A congress is a formal meeting of the representatives of different countries, constituent states, organizations, trade unions, political parties, or other groups. The term originated in Late Middle English to denote an encounter (meeting of ...

of deputies and delegates called together from the Southern States which became the

governing body A governing body is a group of people that has the authority to exercise governance over an organization or political entity. The most formal is a government, a body whose sole responsibility and authority is to make binding decisions in a taken ge ...

of the Provisional Government of the

Confederate States The Confederate States of America (CSA), commonly referred to as the Confederate States or the Confederacy was an unrecognized breakaway republic in the Southern United States that existed from February 8, 1861, to May 9, 1865. The Confeder ...

from February 4, 1861, to February 17, 1862. It sat in Montgomery, Alabama, until May 21, 1861, when it adjourned to meet in Richmond, Virginia, on July 20, 1861. In both cities, it met in the existing state capitols which it shared with the respective secessionist state legislatures. It added new members as other states

seceded Secession is the withdrawal of a group from a larger entity, especially a political entity, but also from any organization, union or military alliance. Some of the most famous and significant secessions have been: the former Soviet republics lea ...

from the

Union Union commonly refers to: * Trade union, an organization of workers * Union (set theory), in mathematics, a fundamental operation on sets Union may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * Union (band), an American rock group ** ''U ...

and directed the election on November 6, 1861, at which a permanent government was elected.

First Session

The First Session of the Provisional Congress was held at Montgomery from February 4, 1861, to March 16, 1861. Members were present from

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = " Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County , LargestMetro = Greater Birmingham , area_total_km2 = 135,7 ...

, Florida,

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...

, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas. It drafted a

provisional constitution A provisional constitution, interim constitution or transitional constitution is a constitution intended to serve during a transitional period until a permanent constitution is adopted. The following countries currently have,had in the past,such a c ...

and set up a government. For

president President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...

and vice-president, it selected Jefferson Davis of Mississippi and

Alexander H. Stephens Alexander Hamilton Stephens (February 11, 1812 – March 4, 1883) was an American politician who served as the vice president of the Confederate States from 1861 to 1865, and later as the 50th governor of Georgia from 1882 until his death in ...

of Georgia.

Constitutional Convention

The Confederate States of America Constitutional Convention was held at Montgomery from February 28, 1861, to March 11, 1861.

Second Session

The Second Session of the Provisional Congress was held at Montgomery from April 29, 1861, to May 21, 1861. Members were present from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and

Arkansas Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the South Central United States. It is bordered by Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, and Texas and Oklahoma to the west. Its name is from the Osage la ...

Third Session

The Third Session of the Provisional Congress was held at Richmond from July 20, 1861, to August 31, 1861. Members were present from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee.

Fourth Session

The Fourth Session of the Provisional Congress was held at Richmond on September 3, 1861. Members were present from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee.

Fifth Session

The Fifth Session of the Provisional Congress was held at Richmond from November 18, 1861, to February 17, 1862. Members were present from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri, and Kentucky. One non-voting member was present from the

Arizona Territory The Territory of Arizona (also known as Arizona Territory) was a territory of the United States that existed from February 24, 1863, until February 14, 1912, when the remaining extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of ...

Leadership

* President: Howell Cobb

Members

Deputies

Deputies from the first seven states to secede formed the first two sessions of the Congress.

* Richard W. Walker * Robert H. Smith * Colin J. McRae *

John Gill Shorter John Gill Shorter (April 23, 1818 – May 29, 1872) was an American politician who served as the 17th Governor of Alabama from 1861 to 1863. Prior to assuming the governorship, Shorter was a Deputy from Alabama to the Provisional Congress of th ...

(''resigned'' November 1861) ** Cornelius Robinson (''took his seat on'' April 29, 1861 – ''Elected to fill vacancy; resigned'' January 24, 1862) * W. P. Chilton * Stephen F. Hale * David P. Lewis (''resigned'' April 29, 1861) ** Nic. Davis, Jr. (''took his seat on'' April 29, 1861 – ''Elected to fill vacancy'') * Thomas Fearn (''resigned'' April 29, 1861) ** H. C. Jones (''took his seat on'' April 29, 1861 – ''Elected to fill vacancy'') * J. L. M. Curry Florida * J. Patton Anderson (''resigned'' April 8, 1861) **

George Taliaferro Ward George Taliaferro Ward (1810 – May 5, 1862) was a major cotton planter and politician from Leon County, Florida. He served in the Confederate Army as a colonel during the American Civil War, dying near Williamsburg, Virginia. Early life and ...

(''took his seat on '' May 2, 1861 – ''Elected to fill vacancy; resigned ''February 5, 1862) ** John Pease Sanderson (''took his seat on '' February 5, 1862 – ''Appointed to fill vacancy'') * James B. Owens *

Jackson Morton Jackson Morton (August 10, 1794 – November 20, 1874) was an American politician. A member of the Whig Party, he represented Florida as a U.S. Senator from 1849 to 1855. He also served as a Deputy from Florida to the Provisional Congress of ...

(''took his seat on '' February 6, 1861)

* Robert Toombs * Howell Cobb * F. S. Bartow (''killed'' July 21, 1861 ''at the

First Battle of Bull Run The First Battle of Bull Run (the name used by Union forces), also known as the Battle of First Manassas

'') ** Thomas Marsh Forman (''took his seat on'' August 7, 1861 – ''Appointed to fill vacancy'') * M. J. Crawford * E. A. Nisbet (''resigned'' December 10, 1861) ** Nathan Henry Bass, Sr. (''took his seat on'' January 14, 1862 – ''Appointed to fill vacancy'') *

B. H. Hill Benjamin Harvey Hill (September 14, 1823 – August 16, 1882) was a politician whose career spanned state and national politics, and the Civil War. He served in the Georgia legislature in both houses. Although he had opposed secession, he st ...

* A. R. Wright * T. R. R. Cobb * A. H. Kenan * A. H. Stephens Louisiana * John Perkins, Jr. * Alexander de Clouet * Charles M. Conrad *

Duncan F. Kenner Duncan Farrar Kenner (February 11, 1813 – July 3, 1887) was an American politician who served as a Deputy from Louisiana to the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States from 1861 to 1862. In 1864, he served as the chief diplomat from the ...

* Edward Sparrow * Henry Marshall Mississippi * A. M. Clayton (''resigned'' May 11, 1861) ** Alexander Blackburn Bradford (''took his seat on'' December 5, 1861 – ''Elected to fill vacancy'') * James T. Harrison * William S. Barry * J. A. P. Campbell * Wiley P. Harris * Walker Brooke * William S. Wilson (''resigned'' April 29, 1861) ** J. A. Orr (''took his seat on'' April 29, 1861 – ''Elected to fill vacancy'') South Carolina *

Robert Barnwell Rhett Robert Barnwell Rhett (born Robert Barnwell Smith; December 21, 1800September 14, 1876) was an American politician who served as a deputy from South Carolina to the Provisional Confederate States Congress from 1861 to 1862, a member of the US ...

* Robert W. Barnwell * Christopher Gustavus Memminger *

James Chesnut, Jr. James Chesnut Jr. (January 18, 1815 – February 1, 1885) was an American lawyer and politician, and a Confederate functionary. Chesnut, a lawyer prominent in South Carolina state politics, served as a Democratic senator in 1858–60, where ...

William Porcher Miles William Porcher Miles (July 4, 1822 – May 11, 1899) was an American politician who was among the ardent states' rights advocates, supporters of slavery, and Southern secessionists who came to be known as the "Fire-Eaters." He is notable for ha ...

* Laurence M. Keitt * Thomas J. Withers (''resigned'' May 21, 1861 ''after second session'') ** James Lawrence Orr (''took his seat on'' February 17, 1862 – ''Appointed to fill vacancy'') * William W. Boyce Texas * John Gregg (''took his seat on'' February 15, 1861) * Thomas N. Waul (''took his seat on'' February 19, 1861) * W. S. Oldham (''took his seat on'' March 2, 1861) * J. H. Reagan (''took his seat on'' March 2, 1861) * John Hemphill (''took his seat on'' March 2, 1861; ''died'' January 4, 1862) * W. B. Ochiltree (''took his seat on'' March 2, 1861) * L. T. Wigfall (''took his seat on'' March 2, 1861)

Delegates

Representatives from states to secede after the

Battle of Fort Sumter The Battle of Fort Sumter (April 12–13, 1861) was the bombardment of Fort Sumter near Charleston, South Carolina by the South Carolina militia. It ended with the surrender by the United States Army, beginning the American Civil War. Follo ...

were referred to as delegates, in contrast to the deputies from the original seven states.

Augustus Hill Garland Augustus Hill Garland (June 11, 1832 – January 26, 1899) was an American lawyer and Democratic politician from Arkansas, who initially opposed Arkansas' secession from the United States, but later served in both houses of the Congres ...

Robert Ward Johnson Robert Ward Johnson (July 22, 1814 – July 26, 1879) was an American planter and lawyer who served as the senior Confederate States senator for Arkansas, a seat that he was elected to in 1861. He previously served as a delegate from Arkansas ...

Albert Rust Albert Rust (April 4, 1870) was an American politician and slaveholder, who served as a delegate from Arkansas to the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States from 1861 to 1862. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the U.S. representa ...

* Hugh French Thomason * William Wirt Watkins Kentucky * Henry Cornelius Burnett *

Theodore Legrand Burnett Theodore Legrand Burnett (November 14, 1829 – October 30, 1917) was an American soldier, attorney, and a prominent politician in the Confederate States of America. Burnett was born in Spencer County, Kentucky. He served in the U.S. Army durin ...

John Milton Elliott John Milton Elliott (May 16, 1820 – March 26, 1879) was an American lawyer and politician from Prestonsburg, Kentucky. He represented Kentucky in the United States House of Representatives from 1853 until 1857 and served in the First Confederate ...

* George Washington Ewing * Samuel Howard Ford * George Baird Hodge * Thomas Johnson *

Thomas Bell Monroe Thomas Bell Monroe (October 7, 1791 – December 24, 1865) was the 15th Secretary of State of Kentucky and a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Kentucky. Education and career Born on October 7 ...

* John J. Thomas * Daniel Price White Missouri * Caspar Wistar Bell *

John Bullock Clark, Sr. John Bullock Clark Sr. (April 17, 1802 – October 29, 1885) was a politician who served as a member of the United States Congress and Confederate Congress. Early life and education John B. Clark Sr. was born in Madison County, Kentucky, a ...

* Aaron H. Conrow * William Mordecai Cooke, Sr. * Thomas W. Freeman * Thomas Alexander Harris * Robert Ludwell Yates Peyton *

George Graham Vest George Graham Vest (December 6, 1830August 9, 1904) was a U.S. politician. Born in Frankfort, Kentucky, he was known for his skills in oration and debate. Vest, a lawyer as well as a politician, served as a Missouri Congressman, a Confederate ...

* Delegate-elect Hyer never took his seat North Carolina * William Waightstill Avery * Francis Burton Craige * Allen Turner Davidson * George Davis * Thomas David Smith McDowell * John Motley Morehead * Richard Clauselle Puryear * Thomas Hart Ruffin * William Nathan Harrell Smith * Abraham Watkins Venable Tennessee *

John DeWitt Clinton Atkins John DeWitt Clinton Atkins (June 4, 1825 – June 2, 1908) was an American slave owner, politician and a member of both the United States House of Representatives and Confederate Congress from Tennessee. Biography Johnathan Atkins was born at ...

* Robert Looney Caruthers * David Maney Currin * William Henry DeWitt *

John Ford House John Ford House (January 9, 1827 – June 28, 1904) was an American politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives for Tennessee's 6th congressional district. Biography House was born on January 9, 1827 near Franklin, ...

Thomas McKissick Jones Thomas McKissick Jones (December 16, 1816 – March 13, 1892) was a prominent Tennessee politician. He was born in Person County, North Carolina. He later moved to Tennessee and served in the state House of Representatives and the state Senate. He ...

* James Houston Thomas Virginia * Thomas Salem Bocock *

Alexander Boteler Alexander Robinson Boteler (May 16, 1815 – May 8, 1892) was a nineteenth-century planter turned businessman, as well as artist, writer, lawyer, Confederate officer, philanthropist and politician from Shepherdstown in what was initially Virgin ...

* John White Brockenbrough * Gideon D. Camden (''resigned'' June 1861) * R. M. T. Hunter * Robert Johnston * William Hamilton MacFarland * James Mason * Walter Preston *

William Ballard Preston William Ballard Preston (November 25, 1805 – November 16, 1862) was an American politician who served as a Confederate States Senator from Virginia from February 18, 1862, until his death in November. He previously served as the 19th United S ...

Roger Atkinson Pryor Roger Atkinson Pryor (July 19, 1828 – March 14, 1919) was a Virginian newspaper editor and politician who became known for his fiery oratory in favor of secession; he was elected both to national and Confederate office, and served as a gen ...

* William Cabell Rives * Charles Wells Russell * Robert Eden Scott * James Alexander Seddon * Waller Redd Staples *

John Tyler John Tyler (March 29, 1790 – January 18, 1862) was the tenth president of the United States, serving from 1841 to 1845, after briefly holding office as the tenth vice president in 1841. He was elected vice president on the 1840 Whig ticke ...

(''died'' January 18, 1862)

Granville Henderson Oury Granville Henderson Oury (March 12, 1825 – January 11, 1891) was a nineteenth-century American politician, lawyer, judge, soldier, and miner. Early life Born in Abingdon, Virginia; Granville Henderson Oury and his family moved to Bowling Gre ...

Notes

References

* * Thomas, Emory M. (1998), ''The Confederate State of Richmond: A Biography of the Capital'',

Louisiana State University Press The Louisiana State University Press (LSU Press) is a university press at Louisiana State University. Founded in 1935, it publishes works of scholarship as well as general interest books. LSU Press is a member of the Association of American Univer ...

. *

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Confederate States, Provisional Congress Of The 1861 establishments in the Confederate States of America 1862 disestablishments in the Confederate States of America

Defunct national legislatures Legislative branch of the Confederate States of America government