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Tench Coxe (The Pennsylvanian) 1788:

     "The power of the sword, say the minority of Pennsylvania, is in the hands of Congress.  My friends and countrymen, it is not so, for the powers of the sword are in the hands of the hands of the yeomanry of American from 16 to 60.  The militia of these free commonwealths, entitled and accustomed to their arms, when compared with any possible army, must be tremendous and irresistible.  Who are the militia?  Are they not ourselves?  Is it feared, then that we shall turn our arms each man against his own bosom?  Congress has no power to disarm the militia.  Their swords, and every other terrible implement of the soldier, are the birthright of an American.  The ultimate power of the sword is not in the hands of either the federal or state governments, but where I trust in God it will ever remain, in the hands of the people."

George Mason 1788:

     "When the resolution to enslave America was formed in Great Britain, the British Parliament was advised by an artful man, who was governor of Pennsylvania, to disarm the people; that it was the best and most effectual way to enslave them; but not to do it openly, but to weaken them, and let them sink gradually . . . I ask who are the militia?  They consist of the whole people, except a few public officers."

Alexander Hamilton:

     "If circumstances should at any time obligate the government to form an army of any magnitude, that army can never be formidable to the liberties of the people while there is a large body of citizens, little if at all inferior to them in discipline and the use of arms, who stand ready to defend their rights and those of their fellow citizens."

Patrick Henry 1788:

     "Guard with jealous attention the public liberty.  Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately nothing will preserve it but downright force.  Whenever you give up that force, you are ruined.  The great object is that every man be armed.  Everyone who is able may have a gun."

(Reprinted from an article by Scott Craig Jones,
"The Firing Line," July 1999)