What, sir, is the use of militia? It is to prevent the establishment of a standing army, the bane of liberty. . . Whenever Government means to invade the rights and liberties of the people, they always attempt to destroy the militia, in order to raise a standing army upon its ruins.
—Elbridge Gerry, of Massachusetts during a debate in U.S. House of Representatives, August 17, 1789
That 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.
—Virginia Declaration of Rights 13 (June 12, 1776), drafted by George Mason
Whenever people entrust the defense of their country to a regular, standing army, composed of mercenaries, the power of that country will remain under the direction of the most wealthy citizens.
—“A Framer,” in the Independent Gazetteer, 1791
None but an armed nation can dispense with a standing army.
—Thomas Jefferson
—large and permanent military establishments which are forbidden by the principles of free government, and against the necessity of which the militia were meant to be a constitutional bulwark.
—James Madison, Fourth Annual Message, November 4, 1812
A standing army is one of the greatest mischief that can possibly happen.
—James Madison
Quotes from
http://polyticks.com/polyticks/beararms/fathers.htm
http://en.thinkexist.com/keyword/standing_army
We assert that no nation can long endure half republic and half empire, and we warn the American people that imperialism abroad will lead quickly and inevitably to despotism at home.
—Democratic Party platform, July 4, 1900
http://janda.org/politxts/PartyPlatforms/Democratic/dem.900.html
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