Columbia, S. C., Nov. 27.--The message of Gav,
Gist, laid before the Legislature yesterday, devotes many pages to local and State affairs.
He says this session of the Legislature is doubly important, as it will have to pave the way for direct trade with
Europe, and advises that the
State shall foster enterprises for such a purpose by guaranteeing the projectors 5 per cent, on investments they may make.
Referring to postal matters, he says he is authorized by the
Postmaster at
Charleston to say that in case the
State secedes he will cover his connection with the
Federal Government, and offer his services to the
State.
This, with the resignation of the postmasters generally in the
State, will enable the Common wealth to be unembarrassed in establishing for herself postal arrangements.
He further suggests a probable arrangement between
South Carolina and the
Federal Government for a given time, or until the other States secede and a Southern Confederacy is formed.--If the
Federal Government insists upon considering
South Carolina in the
Union after she shall have adopted the ordinance of secession, then this postal arrangement shall cease, and another by the
State be substituted.
The Governor advises the prohibition of the introduction of slaves from States not members of the Southern Confederacy, and particularly from the border States.
He says: ‘"Let them keep their slaves within their own borders, and their only alternatives will be, emancipation by their own act, or by the action of their Confederation."’ He hopes, however, that all the slaveholding States will unite in a Southern Confederacy.
He advises the passage of the most ample and stringent laws against the Abolition incendiaries to supercede lynching.
It will deter violations to make the enforcement of the law reliable and severe.
The Governor, referring to the action of
South Carolina in sending
Hon. C. C. Memminger to
Virginia, and his failure to obtain the co-operation of that State for a Southern Conference, also the failure of the
Commissioner from
Mississippi, says all hopes of a concert of action on the part of the
Southern States is lost, and there is but one course left to
South Carolina, consistently with her honor, interest, and safety, and that is, to look neither to the right or to the left, but to go straight forward to the consummation of her purposes.
It is too late now to receive propositions for a Conference, and
South Carolina would be wanting in self-respect to entertain a proposition looking to a continuance of the present Union.
The Governor entertains no reasonable doubt that
Georgia, Alabama,
Mississippi,
Florida,
Texas and
Arkansas, will immediately follow South Caroline, and the other Southern States will eventually complete the galaxy.
It is gratifying to know that if a resort to arms be necessary, we have the tender of volunteers from all the
Southern and some of the
Northern States, to repair promptly to the standard and share the fortunes of Carolina.
He concludes thus:
‘"I cannot permit myself to believe that, in the madness of passion, an attempt will be made by the present or next Administration to coerce
South Carolina after secession, by refusing to surrender the harbor defences or interfering with our imports and exports; but if mistaken, we must accept the issue, and meet it as becomes men and freemen, who infinitely prefer annihilation to disgrace."’
