Elbridge Gerry citations

“The evils we experience flow from the excess of democracy. The people do not want virtue, but are the dupes of pretended patriots.”

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Elbridge Gerry

Constitutional Convention http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/debates_531.asp Monday May 31 [FN1], 1787

“A standing army is like a standing member. It's an excellent assurance of domestic tranquility, but a dangerous temptation to foreign adventure.”

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Elbridge Gerry

Constitutional Convention (1787)

“What, sir, is the use of a militia? It is to prevent the establishment of a standing army, the bane of liberty. Now, it must be evident, that, under this provision, together with their other powers, Congress could take such measures with respect to a militia, as to make a standing army necessary. Whenever Governments mean to invade the rights and liberties of the people, they always attempt to destroy the militia, in order to raise an army upon their ruins.”

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Elbridge Gerry

House of Representatives, Amendments to the Constitution, 17, 20 Aug. 1789 http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/amendIIs6.html