[W]e must extend the authority of the Union to the persons of the citizens - the only proper objects of government.

When human laws contradict or discountenance the means, which are necessary to preserve the essential rights of any society, they defeat the proper end of all laws, and so become null and void.

Little more can reasonably be aimed at with respect to the people at large than to have them properly armed.

The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed.

It is of the nature of war to increase the executive at the expense of the legislative authority.

Can any reasonable man be well disposed toward a government which makes war and carnage the only means of supporting itself?

I go further, and affirm that bills of rights, in the sense and to the extent in which they are contended for, are not only unnecessary in the proposed Constitution, but would even be dangerous. They would contain various exceptions to powers not granted; and on this very account, would afford a colorable pretext to claim more than were granted. For why declare that things shall not be done which there is no power to do?