Who are the militia, if they be not the people, of this country...? I ask who are the militia? They consist now of the whole people, except a few public officers.

Every society, all government, and every kind of civil compact therefore, is or ought to be, calculated for the general good and safety of the community.

There is a Passion natural to the Mind of man, especially a free Man, which renders him impatient of Restraint.

Slavery discourages arts and manufactures.

Slavery discourages arts and manufacturing ...[and] every master of slaves is born a petty tyrant.

That slow poison [slavery] is daily contaminating the minds and morals of our people. Every gentlemen here is born a petty tyrant, practiced in acts of despotism and cruelty.

A well-regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free state; that standing armies, in time of peace, should be avoided as dangerous to liberty; and that in all cases the military should be under strict subordination to, and governed by, the civil power.