Revolutionary Writings, Revolutionary Thoughts

3) "I think it may be demonstrated that eight gallies on our part and six on that of Maryland, well-manned, fitted and commanded, carrying thirty-two and twenty-four pounders, and constructed as were the Congress gallies built at Philadelphia, would with ease baffle the attempts of such a force as came here last. This is a kind of movable battery which proceeding with the enemy would disappoint them, whilst forts on land will be avoided when the foe is weak and always fall when they are strong. And these forts, under the idea of strength delude men to make collections which they otherwise would not, and which tempt an enemy to come for plunder where they would not otherwise visit. " Richard Henry Lee, Letter to George Mason, June 9, 1779.

The Letters of Richard Henry Lee Vol. I. 1762-1778

The Letters of Richard Henry Lee Vol. II. 1779-1794

George Washington

George Washington to Virginia Militia Officers, August 2, 1755

George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, April 24, 1756

George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, August 4, 1756

Head Quarters, Morris Town, January 19, 1777.

"Gentn.: The readiness which the Militia of Pennsylvania have shewn by engaging in the Service of their Country, at an inclement Season of the year, when my Army was reduced to an handful of Men, and our affairs in the most Critical Situation, does great honor to them and to your State. But altho' they have contributed greatly to the Success, which has lately attended our Arms, I must inform you, that with pain I hear they have determined to return home. Most of the City Militia have determined to stay some days longer; they must then be discharged, as I am well informed they are generally in want of almost every Necessary. I must depend chiefly this Winter on the Militia, to enable me to act offensively, or even to make a Stand, and therefore sincerely wish, they could have been prevailed upon to serve, 'till they could have been relieved by the Troops now raising by the Continent. There now is the fairest Opportunity of totally destroying the British Army, or at least of delaying their Operations in the Spring, 'till we may be prepared to oppose them by regular Forces. As it is a Matter of the highest Importance, that your Militia should be put on such a footing, as willfully answer the Exigency of our affairs at this time, I do most earnestly recommend, That such Spirited and effectual Measures be adopted as will soonest accomplish this great and Necessary Work. As there is not the least doubt at present, that the principle Object of the Enemy is to get Possession of the City of Philadelphia, it is absolutely necessary, that every Person able to bear Arms (except such as are Conscientiously scrupulous against it in every Case), should give their personal Service, and whenever a part of the Militia is required only, either to join the Army or find a Man in their place. In order to effect this, I beg you will order the whole Militia of your State to be enrolled and compleatly equipp'd; that one half at least may proceed to join the Army with all possible expedition. Those who have done their tour of Duty already to be excused; But those that have not should be obliged to come forth or hire a proper person in their Place, and to remain till the first of April, unless sooner discharged, by the Commander in Chief." - George Washington to Pennsylvania Safety Council, January 19, 1777

Head Quarters, Morris Town, January 24, 1777.

"Sir: The irregular and disjointed State of the Militia of this Province, makes it necessary for me to inform you, that, unless a Law is immediately passed by your Legislature, to reduce them to some order, and oblige them to turn out, in a different Manner from what they have hitherto done, we shall bring very few into the Field, and even those few will render little or no Service. Their Officers are generally of the lowest Class of People; and, instead of setting a good Example to their Men, are leading them into every Kind of Mischief, one Species of which is, Plundering the Inhabitants, under pretence of their being Tories. A Law should, in my Opinion, be passed, to put a Stop to this kind of lawless Rapine; for, unless there is something done to prevent it, the People will throw themselves, of Choice, into the Hands of the British Troops. But your first object should be a well regulated Militia Law; the People, put under good Officers, would behave in quite another Manner; and not only render real Service as Soldiers, but would protect, instead of distressing, the Inhabitants. What I would wish to have particularly insisted upon, in the New Law, should be, that every Man, capable of bearing Arms, should be obliged to turn out, and not buy off his Service by a trifling fine. We want Men, and not Money. I have the honor to be, etc." - George Washington to William Livingston, January 24, 1777

The Virtues of a Militia

"Were it not totally unnecessary and superfluous to adduce arguments to prove what is conceded on all hands the Policy and expediency of resting the protection of the Country on a respectable and well established Militia, we might not only shew the propriety of the measure from our peculiar local situation, but we might have recourse to the Histories of Greece and Rome in their most virtuous and Patriotic ages to demonstrate the Utility of such Establishments. Then passing by the Mercinary Armies, which have at one time or another subverted the liberties of all most all the Countries they have been raised to defend, we might see, with admiration, the Freedom and Independence of Switzerland supported for Centuries, in the midst of powerful and jealous neighbours, by means of a hardy and well organized Militia. We might also derive useful lessons of a similar kind from other Nations of Europe, but I believe it will be found, the People of this Continent are too well acquainted with the Merits of the subject to require information or example. I shall therefore proceed to point out some general outlines of their duty, and conclude this head with a few particular observations on the regulations which I conceive ought to be immediately adopted by the States at the instance and recommendation of Congress.

It may be laid down as a primary position, and the basis of our system, that every Citizen who enjoys the protection of a free Government, owes not only a proportion of his property, but even of his personal services to the defence of it, and consequently that the Citizens of America (with a few legal and official exceptions) from 18 to 50 Years of Age should be borne on the Militia Rolls, provided with uniform Arms, and so far accustomed to the use of them, that the Total strength of the Country might be called forth at a Short Notice on any very interesting Emergency, for these purposes they ought to be duly organized into Commands of the same formation; (it is not of very great importance, whether the Regiments are Large or small, provided a sameness prevails in the strength and composition of them and I do not know that a better establishment, than that under which the Continental Troops now are, can be adopted. They ought to be regularly Mustered and trained, and to have their Arms and Accoutrements inspected at certain appointed times, not less than once or twice in the course of every [year] but as it is obvious, amongst such a Multitude of People (who may indeed be useful for temporary service) there must be a great number, who from domestic Circumstances, bodily defects, natural awkwardness or disinclination, can never acquire the habits of Soldiers; but on the contrary will injure the appearance of any body of Troops to which they are attached, and as there are a sufficient proportion of able bodied young Men, between the Age of 18 and 25, who, from a natural fondness for Military parade (which passion is almost ever prevalent at that period of life) might easily be enlisted or drafted to form a Corps in every State, capable of resisting any sudden impression which might be attempted by a foreign Enemy, while the remainder of the National forces would have time to Assemble and make preparations for the Field. I would wish therefore, that the former, being considered as a denier resort, reserved for some great occasion, a judicious system might be adopted for forming and placing the latter on the best possible Establishment. And that while the Men of this description shall be viewed as the Van and flower of the American Forces, ever ready for Action and zealous to be employed whenever it may become necessary in the service of their Country; they should meet with such exemptions, privileges or distinctions, as might tend to keep alive a true Military pride, a nice sense of honour, and a patriotic regard for the public. Such sentiments, indeed, ought to be instilled into our Youth, with their earliest years, to be cherished and inculcated as frequently and forcibly as possible. " - George Washington, May 1, 1783, Peace Settlement

James Madison

"It may well be doubted, whether a militia thus circumstanced could ever be conquered by such a proportion of regular troops. Those who are best acquainted with the last successful resistance of this country against the British arms, will be most inclined to deny the possibility of it. Besides the advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation, the existence of subordinate governments, to which the people are attached, and by which the militia officers are appointed, forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition, more insurmountable than any which a simple government of any form can admit of. Notwithstanding the military establishments in the several kingdoms of Europe, which are carried as far as the public resources will bear, the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms. And it is not certain, that with this aid alone they would not be able to shake off their yokes. But were the people to possess the additional advantages of local governments chosen by themselves, who could collect the national will and direct the national force, and of officers appointed out of the militia, by these governments, and attached both to them and to the militia, it may be affirmed with the greatest assurance, that the throne of every tyranny in Europe would be speedily overturned in spite of the legions which surround it." Federalist Debate No. 46- January 28, 1788

Zachariah Johnson

" The people are not to be disarmed of their weapons. They are left in full possession of them. The government is administered by the representatives of the people, voluntarily and freely chosen. Under these circumstances, should any one attempt to establish their own system, in prejudice of the rest, they would be universally detested and opposed, and easily frustrated. This is a principle which secures religious liberty most firmly. The government will depend on the assistance of the people in the day of distress. " - Speech of Zachariah Johnson at the Virginia Debate on the U.S. Constitution, Elliot's Debates, 646

St. George Tucker

1) "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep, and bear arms, shall not be infringed. Amendments to C. U. S. Art. 4.

This may be considered as the true palladium of liberty .... The right of self defence is the first law of nature: in most governments it has been the study of rulers to confine this right within the narrowest limits possible. Wherever standing armies are kept up, and the right of the people to keep and bear arms is, under any colour or pretext whatsoever, prohibited, liberty, if not already annihilated, is on the brink of destruction. In England, the people have been disarmed, generally, under the specious pretext of preserving the game: a never failing lure to bring over the landed aristocracy to support any measure, under that mask, though calculated for very different purposes. True it is, their bill of rights seems at first view to counteract this policy: but the right of bearing arms is confined to protestants, and the words suitable to their condition and degree, have been interpreted to authorise the prohibition of keeping a gun or other engine for the destruction of game, to any farmer, or inferior tradesman, or other person not qualified to kill game. So that not one man in five hundred can keep a gun in his house without being subject to a penalty." St. George Tucker's Blackstone, Volume 1, Appendix Note D, Section 12.

2) "3. Let each district be likewise entitled to chuse as many members of the house of delegates, as their several proportions of the whole number of militia (or free white males over the age of sixteen, and not more than five and forty years of age)"

St. George Tucker's Blackstone, Note C, Of the Constitution of Virginia

3) “The same author observes elsewhere; "the very use of weapons by such an assembly, without the king's license, unless in some lawful and special cases, carries a terror with it, and a presumption of warlike force, etc." The bare circumstance of having arms, therefore, of itself, creates a presumption of warlike force in England, and may be given in evidence there, to prove quo animo the people are assembled. But ought that circumstance of itself, to create any such presumption in America, where the right to bear arms is recognized and secured in the constitution itself? In many parts of the United States, a man no more thinks of going out of his house on any occasion, without his rifle or musket in his hand, than an European fine gentleman without his sword by his side.” Tucker, Blackstone’s Commentaries, Vol. 5, Note B. Concerning Treason (1803).

4) "And, lastly, to vindicate these rights, when actually violated or attacked, the subjects of England are entitled, in the first place, to the regular administration and free course of justice in the courts and law; next to the right of petitioning the king and parliament for redress of grievances; and lastly to the right of having and using arms for self-preservation and defense. " Tucker, Blackstone’s Commentaries, Vol 2. Chapter 1. Of the Absolute Rights of Individuals, (1803).

5) “In America we may reasonably hope that the people will never cease to regard the right of keeping and bearing arms as the surest pledge of their liberty.” 2 St. George Tucker, Blackstone’s Commentaries, Of Title to Things Personally By Occupancy, at 414.

The Colony Of Virginia In Revolution

MARCH, 1651-2 −−− 2nd OF COMMONWEALTH

ARTICLES AT THE SURRENDER OF THE COUNTRIE.

Articles agreed on and concluded at James Cittie in Virginia for the surrendering and settling of that plantation under the obedience and government of the Commonwealth of England, by the commissioners of the Councill of State, by authoritie of the Parliament of England and by the Grand Assembly of the Governour, Councill and Burgesses of that countrey.

FIRST, It is agreed and cons'ted that the plantation of Virginia, and all the inhabitants thereof, shall be and remaine in due obedience and subjection to the commonwealth of England, according to the lawes there established, And that this submission and subscription bee acknowledged a voluntary at not forced nor constrained by a conquest vpon the countrey, And that they shall have and enioy such freedomes and priviledges as belong to the free borne people of England, and that the former government by the comissions and instruction be void and null...

7thly. That the people of Virginia have free trade as the people of England do enjoy to all places and with all nations according to the lawes of that commonwealth, And that Virginia shall enjoy all priviledges equall with any English plantations in America.

8thly. That Virginia shall be free from all taxes, customes and impositions whatsoever, and none to be imposed on them without consent of the Grand Assembly, And soe that neither ffortes nor castles bee erected or garrisons maintained without their consent.

Petition of the Virginia House of Burgesses to the House of Commons: December 18, 1764

The Quartering Act. Troops to be Housed in Inns or Places that Have On-premises Sale and Consumption of Alcohol- May 1765

Virginia Resolves on the Stamp Act- Patrick Henry, May, 30, 1765

Virginia Nonimportation Association, May 18, 1769

Virginia Resolutions Establishing A Committee of Correspondence; March 12, 1773

Lord Dunmore calls out Militia to defend Virginia's Interest from an Encroaching Pennsylvania government toward Pittsburg. Those who do not obey do so at their peril- April 1774

A Day of Fasting and Prayer in Support of the Closing of the Port of Boston, May 24, 1774.

The House of Burgesses is Dissolved by the Governor. Delegates to Meet as Private Citizens- May 27,1774

Prince William County Resolves June 6, 1774, Published in Virginia Gazette June 16, 1774.

Fairfax County Resolves , July 18, 1774

George William Fairfax, Friend of George Washington Was a Loyalist: Leaves for England and Disposes of Belvoir Plantation, 1774

George Washington to Bryan Fairfax, July 20, 1774

Bryan Fairfax to George Washington August 5, 1774

The Association of the Virginia Convention; August 1-6, 1774

Virginia Delegates to Congress 1774-1789

Ban on the Exportation of , Gunpowder, Arms, Ammunition, & Saltpetre to America , Oct, 13 1774

Declaration of Right and Grievances, October 14, 1774

General Gage to Peyton Randolph, October 20, 1774

The Continental Association, October 20, 1774

Granville Sharpe's Treatise on: A Declaration of the Peoples Natural Right to a Share in the Legislature, which is the Fundamental Principle of the British Constitution of State. Virginia Gazette, Oct. 20, 1774

Convention of Virginia Delegates in Richmond March 1775 - "That the establishment of such a militia is at this time peculiarly necessary, by the state of our laws, for the protection and defence of the country"

Lord Dunmore's Writ to Stop Delegates from being Appointed to the Continental Congress -March 1775

Lawyers to Boycott, Suspension of Justice to defy the King, March 1775

Virginia Gazette First Account of Battle of Lexington "A great deal of blood spilt" , April 29, 1775

Governor Dunmore's Proclamation on the Reasons for Removing the Gunpowder - May 3, 1775

Governor Dunmore's Proclamation to Arrest Patrick Henry for Taking up Arms-May 6, 1775

George Washington to George William Fairfax(in England) on Account of the Opening Hostilities - May 31, 1775

Speech of Lord Dunmore, Reconciliation Plan, June 1, 1775

Response of Lord Dunmore Before Retreating to a Man O'War in Norfolk, June 10, 1775

House of Burgesses Inquiry into the Gunpowder Incident, June 14, 1775

King George III Declares the Colonies in Rebellion - August 23, 1775

Various Experiments on Rifle Fire in Williamsburg Oct 3, 1775 ( Propaganda)

Newspaper Article Advising Lord Dunmore to Watch out for the Virginia Rifleman. They can Shoot Him Just as Well as they Shot the Shawnee During His War. Oct 27, 1775

King George III's Address to Parliament, - October 27, 1775

Lord Dunmore Proclaims Martial Law, November 1775

Continental Congress Response to King George III Declaring the American Colonies in Rebellion- December 6, 1775

"We condemn, and with arms in our hands,--a resource which Freemen will never part with..."

How to Make GUNPOWDER: Lord Dunmore is Rebuked for Calling People Rebels; Joking of Soldiers Shooting Paper Targets as a Sign of Bravery December 8, 1775.

Continental Congress, March 1776: " Resolved, That four musquets and bayonets be lent to the delegates of Virginia, for the use of the guard that accompanies the powder going to Virginia."

Request For a Declaration of Rights and Independence, May 15, 1776 Published May 17, 1776

Preamble and Resolution of the Virginia Convention, May 15, 1776

First Draft of Virginia Declaration of Rights by George Mason, May 1776

Virginia Declaration of Rights; June 12, 1776, Published in the Virginia Gazette (Alexander Purdie) June 14, 1776

Virginia Declaration of Rights Text

The Constitution of Virginia; June 29, 1776

The Constitution of Virginia Printed in Virginia Gazette: Dixon and Hunter, July 6, 1776 Virginia Gazette : Purdie, July 5, 1776

The Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776

The Declaration of Independence in the Virginia Gazette: Purdie July 26, 1776

Continental Congress Requests Virginia Committee of Safety"all the lead that can be collected in Fredericksburg and that 15-20 tons of lead be mined and sent to Philadelphia"

Patrick Henry Orders the Arrest as Prisoners of War Those People Who Reside in the Mentioned Counties- March 28, 1777

The Militia , The Regulars, The Intelligence and the War

Fairfax County Independent Company of Volunteers Organized by George Mason, September 21, 1774

Fairfax County Independent Company of Volunteers in Virginia Gazette, October 27, 1774

Battle of Point Pleasant - Dunmore's War, October 10, 1774 / Tu-Endie-Wie

Virginia Gazette Account of the Battle of Point Pleasant October 13, 1774

Virginia Gazette Account of Battle of Point Pleasant. Number of Killed and Wounded. November 10, 1774 (Pinkney).

Fredericksburg Militia, 14 Companies of Light Horse, 600 Men Well Armed and Well Disciplined, Virginia Gazette May 13, 1775

Patrick Henry Leads Hanover Independent Company to Take Williamsburg, May 5,1775

Richard Caswell to William Caswell: "we were constantly meeting Armed [Virginia] men ...Here were part of the Militia of three Counties under Arms & in the Uniform of hunting shirts..." May 1775

George Washington is Appointed Commander of the Continental Army , June 1775, Published July 6, 1775

Letter From George Washington to Independent Militia Companies of Fairfax, etc. June 20, 1775, Published July 14, 1776

Committee of the House of Burgesses on The Removal of the Gunpowder by the Governor and the Formation of Independent Volunteer Companies- June 1775

Caroline County Independent Company May 12, 1775. , August 11, 1775, October 13, 1775

Dinwiddie County Independent Company of Volunteers Looking for Adjutant for Instruction in Military Discipline, June 10, 1775.

Caroline Militia on Parade. Capture of Two Enemy Sailors Hiding in Woods. July 7, 1775

Committee of Safety: Requesting Appointment of Militia Officers and the Gathering of Arms. Flag to Read, Virginia for Constitutional Liberty

Francis Lightfoot Lee to Landon Carter: "Your good friend Ld. Dunmore is endeavouring to raise all the powers on earth to demolish poor Virginia." Oct. 1775

Fresh Intelligence. Raiding Parties, November 1775

Virginia Rifleman Marksmanship November 17, 1775.

Ban on the Export to the Colonies of Arms and Ammunition November 30, 1775.

Battle of Great Bridge Virginia, Published December 15, 1775

Exchange of Prisoners, Account of Siege of Norfolk ,Convicted Negro yells out God Damn the King and the Governor!- December 1775

A Virginia Gazette Article on Gunnery, The Geometry of Hitting Targets with Artillery Feb. 2, 1776.

Appointments and Request to Raise Men for the Virginia Rifle Company : July 9, 1776:

Intelligence Indicates a Possible Attack on the Commonwealth. Militia Men to be armed and Guns repaired (Col. John Augustine Washington)- August 20, 1776

Patrick Henry (Governor) Requests Volunteers for the Militia to Defend the State, Men to Supply Their Own Arms. December 26, 1776

Soldiers and Sailors Families to be Taken Care of : December 20, 1776.

Continental Congress Requests Virginia to Send Militia to Reinforce General Washington's Army, December 21, 1776

Virginian's Must Swear Allegiance to the State Against King George, Recusants to be Disarmed- 1777

Public Arms Must be Returned. County Lieutenants to be Supplied with Public Arms and Train Their Men. Milita Must pay for Gunpowder. (April 11, 1777 (Purdie).

First United States Military Academy/Instruction - June 20 , 1777

All County Lieutenants of the Virginia Militia are Put on Alert. Thomas Nelson is Appointed Brigadier General and Commander in Chief of the Commonwealth. August 22, 1777.

Tories Organize Their Own Militia. Are Captured by Virginia Militia and Put in Jail - August 29, 1777

Quaker Prisoners to be Sent to Virginia: September 1777

Daniel Morgan, Virginia Hero of the Battle of Cow Pens, Leader of the Famous Virginia Riflemen

Daniel Morgan's Virginia Riflemen at Saratoga Turn Back the British, September 1777

General Washington Orders Buckshot to be Added to all Cartridges Creating "Buck and Ball" October 6, 1777

Patrick Henry Orders Arrest of Militia Members Who Murdered Friendly Indians - Chief Cornstalk and his Sons, April 3, 1778

Fairfax County Militia Members Court Martialed, June 5, 1778

An Act for Raising Volunteers to Join the Grand Army- May 1778

Patrick Henry Calls out the Militia to Protect the Frontiers, Detroit is laid aside- August 1778

Patrick Henry Orders Militia to be Ready to Fight the Enemy After British Fleet Enters and Takes Town of Suffolk. May 15, 1779

George Washington to Henry Laurens, (Arming Slaves) March 20, 1779

First Emancipation of Slaves for Duty in the Army by the Continental Congress to Protect the Southern Front- March 29, 1779

General Washington to The Board of War April 4, 1779 (Blunderbusses are Preferable to Carbines for Dragoons)

Col. George Rogers Clarke and the Virginia Militia Defeat British at Detroit June 5, 1779 / The Articles of Captiulation of Vincennes June 5, 1779

Col. George Rogers Clarke's Letter Describing the Attack and Victory at Vincennes June 26, 1779.

Continental Congress on Arming Slaves for the Southern Front, December 9, 1780

General Washington to Major General Robert Howe, June 11, 1781 (Blunderbusses)

Letter From George Washington at Mt. Vernon to General Maquis de Lafeyette - Sept. 10th, 1781

Intelligence in the War for Independence

Patrick Henry Appoints an Intelligence Officer, January 16, 1777.

Spy Escapes Jail - April 25, 1777 (Purdie)

James Armistead Lafayette, Virginian and Master Spy at Yorktown.

The Emancipation of James Lafayette by the Virginia General Assembly

Spy Letters of the American Revolution

Jack Jouett of Virginia

The Talmadge Cypher Codes of 1783

A Constitutional Republic is Won

After Action Report by Nathaniel Greene on the Battle of Guilford Courthouse and the Virginia Militia, March 16, 1781

Calendar and Record of the American Revolution in the South: 1780-1781

Lafayette's Virginia Campaign (1781)

Articles of Capitulation; October 18, 1781- Victory at Yorktown, Va.

Formation of the Constitution Society by Many of the Leading Men of Virginia, June 15, 1784.

"WE, the underwritten, having associated for the purpose of preserving and handing down to posterity, those pure and sacred principles of liberty, which have been derived to us, from the happy event of the late glorious revolution, and being convinced, that the surest mode to secure republican systems of government from lapsing into tyranny, is by giving free and frequent information to the mass of people, both of the nature of them, and of the measures which may be adopted by their several component parts, have determined, and do hereby most solemnly pledge ourselves to each other, by every holy tie and obligation, which freemen ought to hold inestimably dear, that every one in his respective station, will keep a watchful eye over the great fundamental rights of the people. That we will without reserve, communicate our thoughts to each other, and to the people, on every subject which may either tend to amend our government, or to preserve it from the innovations of ambition, and the designs of faction."

Militia Muster Rolls/Regimental Histories

Muster Rolls of those who Served in the Militia When Lord Dunmore Called out the Militia to Fight the Indian Nations in April 1774, Searchable database
Loudoun County Militia Muster Rolls During the Revolution
Fincastle County Militia 1774
Regimental Histories and Searchable Muster Rolls
Colonial Military Records Bibliography from the College of William and Mary
Fort Necessity Roster of Virginia Militia During the French and Indian War
Letter of George Wythe, George Mason and Thomas Jefferson to George Rogers Clarke Offering Land for The Service of his Virginia Volunteers , January 3, 1778.

Land Warrants Issued (4,748) to Virginia Revolutionary War Veterans in Kentucky (Searchable by Name)

Brigadier General Daniel Morgan's Land Warrant for Service in the Revolutionary War

The Life of General Daniel Morgan

Post Revolutionary Documents

Articles of Confederation , Subsection VI (1781) : "but every State shall always keep up a well-regulated and disciplined militia, sufficiently armed and accoutered, and shall provide and constantly have ready for use, in public stores, a due number of field pieces and tents, and a proper quantity of arms, ammunition and camp equipage."

Virginia's Debates on the New Constitution of the United States

"[I} have the highest veneration for those gentlemen; but, sir, give me leave to demand, What right had they to say, We, the people? My political curiosity, exclusive of my anxious solicitude for the public welfare, leads me to ask, Who authorized them to speak the language of, We, the people, instead of, We, the states? States are the characteristics and the soul of a confederation. If the states be not the agents of this compact, it must be one great, consolidated, national government, of the people of all the states." Patrick Henry, June 4, 1788, 3 Elliot's Debates, P.22. "Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined. I am answered by gentlemen, that, though I might speak of terrors, yet the fact was, that we were surrounded by none of the dangers I apprehended. I conceive this new government to be one of those dangers: it has produced those horrors which distress many of our best citizens. We are come hither to preserve the poor commonwealth of Virginia, if it can be possibly done: something must be done to preserve your liberty and mine. "- June 5, 1788, 3 Elliot's Debates, P.45-46.

The Debates In The Convention Of The Commonwealth Of Virginia, On The Adoption Of The Federal Constitution.

The Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787, (Searchable Database by Constitution.org)

George Mason's Master Draft on the U.S Bill of Rights, June 1788 (The People Hav e a Right to Bear Arms)

Ratification of the Constitution by the State of Virginia; June 26, 1788. (The People Have A Right to Bear Arms)

Constitution of the United States

Portsmouth, Virginia Militia Captain Magnien's Company of Grenadiers on A well Regulated Militia and the Virginia Declaration of Rights (1798).

"That as 'a well regulated militia, composed of the body of the People, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defence of a free State;' we view every measure which leads to the establishment of standing armies and expensive navies, as contrary to the spirit of a free Government; and by no means so well calculated to ward off foreign insult and invasion, as to invite domestic subjugation, slavery, and ruin.

"That the measures taken at the last session of Congress, for the defence of our common country, were wise and patriotic. Eighty thousand of our fellow citizens, and brethren of the militia, being, in our judgment, fully competent to the defence of our country, against any foreign nation whatever.

"That, in case of actual invasion from abroad, or of domestic insurrection at home, we hold it to be the duty of all good citizens and militia men, to rally round the standard of Government, and to defend our rights against all encroachments whatever: And therefore, we pledge ourselves, to appear armed and accoutered, at any moment when our services shall (for the purposes above mentioned) be required.

Virginia Gazette, Proceedings of the General Assembly Including Inventory of Arms, Penitentiary Blotter, Page 1, 1807.

Virginia Gazette, Proceedings of the General Assembly Including the Militia, Distribution of Richmond Arms, Penalty for Those Who Refuse the Arms. Page 2, 1807.

Post Revolutionary Problems

Native Americans

See Letter From Richard Henry Lee to James Monroe for a Virginian's Perspective

Tecumseh and Lalawethica, Brothers Born of the Dunmore War and the Revolution

Treaty of Greenville, 1795- Not Signed by Tecumseh

Land Grants to Revolutionary Soldiers, Treaty of 1777 - Kinney v. Clarke, 43 U.S. 76 (1844)

Problems with the United States Constitution

Virginia Resolution of 1798 : Alien and Sedition Acts Violate the Federal Bill of Rights