“The militia of these free commonwealths, entitled and accustomed to their arms, when contrasted with any possible army, must be tremendous and irresistible.”— Tench Coxe
“The powers of the sword are in the hands of the yeomanry of America from sixteen to sixty.”— Tench Coxe
“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.”— Richard Henry Lee
“A militia, when properly formed, are in fact the people themselves... and include all men capable of bearing arms.”— Richard Henry Lee
“My Brigade is composed of Citizens, Subjects of the State... I have never had any of them Executed for desertion or any other crime.”— Francis Marion