My inderstanding from my long ago history teachers was that while the Confederate Constitution was "provisional" the Confederate Congress could change any part of that Constitution. But once the Constitution became "permanent" then the Constitution could only be changed by the lenghty amendment process. Therefore the Confederate States of America were not fully formalized until the Provisional Constitution was made Permanent February 22nd, 1862.
That is my Understanding. Is that not Correct?
Now you may say what difference does that make? But the 1862 date becomes very important. In the international politics with England and the Confederate States a certain provision (Art 1, Sec 9, below) within the Confederate Constitution that survived to make it into the permanent Constitution was of great importance to England and forced Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclaimation to keep England out of the War on the side of the Confederacy.
Article 1, Section 9, Para, 1 & 2, reads;
Sec. 9.
(I) The importation of negroes of the African race from any foreign country other than the slaveholding States or Territories of the United States of America, is hereby forbidden; and Congress is required to pass such laws as shall effectually prevent the same.
(2) Congress shall also have power to prohibit the introduction of slaves from any State not a member of, or Territory not belonging to, this Confederacy.
This provision caused Lincoln to enter into negociation with England on the stopping the slave trade on the open seas in April 1862 just two months after this provision was made permanent within the Confederate Constitution.
Notice that according to this provision that the ONLY counrty from which the Confederate States could Import new slaves from was the UNITED STATES. To England, who at that time lead the world in the emancipation and elimination of slaves both in their own country and on the open seas, this provision made the United States a slave provider and the reason why England, at least in part, at first supported the southern Confederacy. England knew that the southern Confederacy wanted to eventually end the practise of slavery. But the southern slave owners wanted to do it gradually in the English manner.
It did not matter to England, who won this american war except as it helped to end the slave trade. Again here we get to the Emancipation proclaimation which was necessary to enforce the provision of this treaty which was not fully ratified until April 1863, and was one of the primary reasons that Lee felt that he needed to win a major victory on Northern soil that lead to the Battle of Gettysburg.
That is my outlook on why the February 22nd 1862 date is very important in American History. Simple Cause and effect.