The militia of these free commonwealths, entitled and accustomed
to their arms, when compared with any possible army, must be
_tremendous and irresistable_. 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 have no power to disarm the
militia. Their swords, and every other terrible implement of the
soldier, are _the birth-right of an American_...the unlimited
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_.
-- Tench Coxe 20 Feb. 1788
to their arms, when compared with any possible army, must be
_tremendous and irresistable_. 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 have no power to disarm the
militia. Their swords, and every other terrible implement of the
soldier, are _the birth-right of an American_...the unlimited
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_.
-- Tench Coxe 20 Feb. 1788
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The strongest reason for the people to retain their...
