| President of the Confederate States[n 1] | |
|---|---|
 | |
.jpg) Jefferson Davis February 18, 1861 – May 5, 1865[n 2] Provisional: February 18, 1861 – February 22, 1862[n 3] | |
| Style | His Excellency |
| Type | |
| Residence |
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| Seat |
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| Appointer | |
| Term length |
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| Constituting instrument | Constitution of the Confederate States |
| Formation |
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| First holder | Jefferson Davis |
| Final holder | Jefferson Davis |
| Abolished | May 5, 1865 |
| Salary | CS$25,000 peryear |
Thepresident of the Confederate States was thehead of state andhead of government of theunrecognized breakawayConfederate States. The president was thechief executive of the federal government andcommander-in-chief of theConfederate Army andNavy.[1]
Article II of theConstitution of the Confederate States vested executive power of the Confederacy in the president. The power included execution of law, along with responsibility for appointing executive, diplomatic, regulatory and judicial officers, and concluding treaties with foreign powers with theadvice and consent of the senate. He was further empowered to grantreprieves and pardons, and convene and adjourn either or both houses ofCongress under extraordinary circumstances.[1]
The president wasindirectly elected by the people through theElectoral College to a six-year term, and was one of two nationally elected Confederate officers, the other being thevice president. On February 18, 1861,Jefferson Davis became president of theprovisional government, as well as the only person to assume the position. On February 22, 1862, he became president of the permanent government and served in that capacity until the Confederacy's military collapse. The Confederate States cabinet declared the Confederacy dissolved May 5, 1865, after which Davis stopped attempting to exercise his office's powers and duties. May 5 is therefore generally considered to be the day the Confederate States of America (and its presidency) were formally abolished. Davis himself was captured by elements of theUnited States Cavalry five days later.[2]
The constitutional powers of the president of the Confederate States were similar to those of thepresident of the United States. The permanent Confederate States Constitution made him commander-in-chief of the Army, Navy, andmilitia of the confederated states when called into service of the Confederate States. He was also empowered to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the Confederate States. He was authorized to make treaties; to nominate and appoint diplomatic representatives, judges, and other officers of the Confederate States (including the heads of the executive departments) by and with the consent of the Confederate States Senate; and to remove such representatives and officers. During a Senate recess, he could fill vacancies but not reappoint persons previously rejected by the Senate. He was to supply Congress with information, recommend legislation, receive ambassadors and other public ministers, see that federal laws were faithfully executed, and commission all officers of the military and naval forces of the Confederate States.[2]
One power the Confederate President that differed from the United States President was the power ofline-item veto, which was mostly delegated to U.S. governors. Davis did not use the line-item veto before the end of the war.
On February 9, 1861, the provisional congress at Montgomery unanimously electedJefferson Davis president andAlexander H. Stephens vice president. Stephens, who was adelegate to Congress fromGeorgia, was inaugurated on February 11. Davis was inaugurated on February 18 upon his arrival fromMississippi, where he had gone upon hisresignation from the U.S. Senate. Confederate presidents were to belimited to a single term. Davis and Stephens wereelected on Wednesday November 6, 1861 for six-years terms, as provided by the permanent constitution. The capital had been moved in June 1861 to Richmond and the inauguration took place at thestatue of Washington on Capitol Square on February 22, 1862.[2]
Before Davis entered on the execution of his office as President of the Confederate States, he was constitutionally required to take the following oath oraffirmation:
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the Confederate States, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution thereof.[1]
In 1861, the president of the Confederate States earned aCS$25,000 annual salary, along with anexpense account, and a nontaxable travel account.[3] The President's Office was located on the second floor of theCustom House on Main Street, a structure which also housed theCabinet Room and theState andTreasury Departments. The City of Richmond purchased theWhite House of the Confederacy (Brockenbrough House) for presentation to the Confederate government for use as anexecutive mansion. Davis declined to accept the gift, but the mansion was leased for his use. Referred to as the "White House of the Confederacy" or the "Grey House," the mansion was used by Davis until Richmond fell to the Union Army in early April 1865. The residence later became a repository for documents, relics, and pictures, and in 1896 it was redesignated theConfederate Museum.[2]
As of 1864, Davis had a private secretary,Burton N. Harrison, of Mississippi, and fiveaides-de-camp: Col.William M. Browne of Georgia, Col.James Chestnut of South Carolina, Col.William P. Johnston of Kentucky, Col.G. W. C. Lee of Virginia, and Col.John T. Wood.[4]
| Vice President |
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| Secretary of State |
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| Secretary of the Treasury |
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| Secretary of War |
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| Secretary of the Navy |
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| Postmaster-General |
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| Attorney-General |
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