Grid List Quotes Pictures Events
Loading Full Historical Timeline
Loading Full Historical Timeline
1788
on 1/15/1788
"The known propensity of a democracy is to licentiousness which the ambitious call, and ignorant believe to be liberty. "
on 1/25/1788
"To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them."
on 2/20/1788
"Who are the militia? Are they not ourselves? It is 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 birthright of an American . . . . [T]he 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."
 |
 |
 |
in 1788
"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
in 1788
"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
 |
 |
 |
 |
in 1788
"The minds of youth are perpetually led to the history of Greece and Rime or to Great Britain; Boys are constantly repeating the declamations of Demosthenes and Cicero, or debates upon some political question in the British Parliament."
 |