Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-06-20
Remark. of M xENVEY, delivered in cous<..i..s 9,

Remarks of Nr. KENNEY, delivered in Cons1.,e.a 6,
the ssh April 1851. or the Bars Of Repre1ea.sson
Mr. Chairman: can you that arise to nd
dzs.s the Committee with small degr &c Of aabuyrss
msns II u probably known to yor. slthough it ma,
not b known to many members Of dis BODY, that
have passed om youth to age thoat ever having beef
OF legally eonsu utea deliberative assen,
nly, and that have not until became member q
this oonyentlen spent res hours of my life even as
&aasrJ lSGoy a1u .or Of national or any OF oul
.!sSs.;.. m C.. am now, IN my declining years q.
s.Ip.S -! & essay. and confess make the enof'
unoG great e aharrassInent am aware to whom an.
,ouessn@ myself That it cannot be denied that al
1sspectabe share of the talents, OF the exPeri
soe Of the wisdom and Of the character OF rgIna
hs "a assembled Many are here whom their country
man have delighted to honor. Many gentlemen are
here who have held high positions Gentlemen ar
here to whom Senates have listened with applause
and that am about to engage in the discussion oil
question of deep interest and vital Importance TO the
land of my BIRTH nv native State In all ages the ma
king of the fundamental laws Tor any people has req
red the utmost elaboration and the matured judgment
Of her wssst men, and they, such as Moses LycurSus
Soloo Alfred the Great and others whose names are
familiar this committee, who succeeded in presenting
q fundamental code to their people, suited to the
genius Of that people and the times and circumstance.
in which they placed secured To themselves thu
appreciation ths contemporaries the gratitude Of pos
,srity md en- Immortality Of same
There is an additional Importance attached tn Ia
hors here for we have bseu told by the genteaa from
Psuaaier, (Mr CHILroS) and to whose opinions. fron
his genius hs requirements his powers
his patriotism and manly bearing the highest respect
due that he docs soemnly believe elaboration
in some depends the integrity Of Virginia tn
union of this mighty confsderacy and the liberty Of tb
world If the gloomy approximations OF tina gentleman
are entitled any consideration, and oil who kow hin
know TINT whatever sentiment emanates from him j
worthy of deliberations then about to determine
whether this land of Washington, of Mason, of Jefferson
Of Marshall of Henry and of Madison Of the heroes
patriots and ssges Of BY gone days of fathers of
birth adoption is still to be the land Of the free an
right in bis gloomy forebodings. this hre-that ou
fathers kindled into tlaze aud which they hoped.
hope, and We all hope, may rise higher and higher I'm
til its beams shall duse light to the ends of the earth
and shall into manly existence oil nations-shsl
be forever extngushed Whether this temple which
our fathers erected to liberty and invited all people
come here and worship in. shall be tutnbcd down
converted into the tomb OF its vota1es whether this
lum which have opened as place OF refuge 10 tn
oppressed of MI nations shall be forever closed Thes
considerations must impress Us all with the importanc
OF our position, and the deep responsibility that rest
upon %, Y.
The few remarks which purpose making to the com
ttee shall be basel upon the declaration of indepen
dsnee aud the Virginia bill Of rights concurrent and
tsmporaneous productions presented by laborors il
tie mighty contest in which they were then engaged
10 not rely upon them grand priuciples-then 6r.
discovered of the equality and equal rghts Of man-fu
those principles were known to man from his earles
history down to the last grown of the last deceased O
Adams descendants, and in all ages warmed the patri
ots heart and nerved his arm to the maintenance O
those rghta But ouf fathers Of the revolution drserr
etanal credit immortal renown, their memories forava
70 BE- cherished as the first great BODY Of men who b
the moral courage TO proclaim these principles to a Ii,
tening world the FIRST body of possessing suf
cent phyAcal ability and 20 vintcate thes,
pncpes in opposition to tho rage and power of those
AHays interested IA suppssssns them In the asser