The true Democrat., 1855-12-18
From the N. o. Picayune Sonth Earo1ina

 We have received copy of the annual mes- sage of the Governor of South Carolina. | The amount of the public debt of South Caro- lima is $2 297, 1856. To this must be added SSOO.- GOO for State subscription to the Blue Ridge railroad company, and another million for en- dorsement on the bonds of the same company so that the whole debt of the State would amount to S5,OS7, ,156 23, which the Governor policy. He recommends the State to decline embarking in any project requiring new loans to any considerable amount.
 The bulk of the message IS devoted to the local affairs of the State. There is. however one topic which is of general interest, involv- ing questions which concern all the southern States and which have been topic of cores pondence and controversy between the United States and Great Britain. We refer to the laws of South Carolina for the imprisonment of CO., lored seamen from abroad. Such laws wee common to all the southern maritime States; and the principle upon which they were en- acted is still universally maintained, but they have been relaxed in many places. Here in Louisiana the notifications have proved 1t to be satisfactory.
 But South Carolina has refused to modify her laws while the coercive position was assum- ed against her by the British government, which, in addition to remonstrances addressed to the federal authorities, had instituted formal proceedings to test their validity before the courts of the United States. The ground which South Carolina assumed, was that the right of a State to enforce such police laws as she may deem essential to her public safety, Is right which she never surrendered, and never could surrender, and she would yield to no menace or intimidation any portion of her le gislation. But these proceedings being all for mallv withdrawn, and the right of the State to protect herself fully conceded, the Governor is of opinion that she may relax the strlngency of the regulations complained of, and modify them so as to make them bear with less harsh ness upon the persons subject to them. She therefore recommends that the law be so mo- di6ed as to permit colored seamen, the subjects of foreign nations, to remain on board their ves- ses, and to be allowed to land whenever the duties of the vessel may require it, upon their receiving a written permit to that effect from the mayor of the port; and that while on land they be subject to the ordinary restrictions ap- | piled to the native population.
 In this relaxation the colored seamen of the northern States do not seem to be included.- The ground of this discrimination is that the assaults from the north on the institution of slavery, are increasing in vlruence. To them he is evidently unwilling to make any conces- sions.
 | The Governor announces to the Legislature that he has received certain resolutions from the State of Massachusetts, and has returned them to the Governor of that State for the fol- lowing reasons:
 Had Massachusetts confined herself to reso- lutions expressive of her feelings and purposes in relation to slavery, impertinent as 1 may have regarded them 1 would have received them with indifference, and transmitted them without comment; but l consider the acts o her late Legislature as an insult and an out rage upon every member of the confederacy who has a right to demand the enforcement o the fugitive slave act. A State whose Leglsla ture deliberately, unbushingly, impiously vio lates her constitutional obligations, and whose people resist the execution of laws, even to the shedding of blood, is not entitled to comity from Us; and 1 feel that l would have betray ed the dignity of my trust had l hesitaed tc at1ix on such conduct the seal of official con- demnation. The interchange of civilties witt a people who feel it to be no disgrace to pro vent the recovery of stolen property, vii hardly reclaim the falthesS, and is incompati
 
 self
 The message concludes with the following passage on the present aspect of the slavery qneston:
 The agitation in relation to slavery continue to increase, and s rapidly tending to its bloody termination. Measures which it was hoped by some would give quiet to the country, and dignity to its deliberations, has served but tc redoube the efforts and au gmcnt the power o abolition. Civil war is dreful calamity, bu its scourges are to be endured in preference t degradation and ruin. The people of Soutl Carolina alive to the issue, and are mindful I of their obligations. They are calm because they are prepared and selfreliant. They have not forgotten their history, and they will no fail to vindicate its teachings. The right tC provide new guards for their future security has been sealed by the blood of their ancestors and it will never be surrendered. Come wha may, they will do their duty and leave the consequence to God.'