"THE right of the citizens to bear arms in defence of themselves and the state, shall not be questioned"

"Rights of Man.

   "WE hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate, that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience has shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.--But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.--Declaration of Independence.
   "ALL men have certain natural, essential, and inherent rights--among which are the enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing, and protecting property; and, in a word, of seeking and obtaining happiness.--Constitution of New Hampshire.
   "ALL power is inherent in the people; and all free governments are founded on their authority, and instituted for their peace, safety, and happiness. For the advancement of those ends, they have, at all times, an unalienable and indefeasible right, to alter, reform, or abolish their government, in such manner as they may think proper.--Constitution of Pennsylvania.
   "THE citizens have a right, in a peaceable manner to assemble together for their common good, and to apply to those invested with the powers of government, for redress of grievances, or other proper purposes, by petition, address, or remonstrance.--Idem.
   "THE right of the citizens to bear arms in defence of themselves and the state, shall not be questioned.--Idem..."

[The School of Wisdom, Or, American Monitor. CONTAINING A COPIOUS COLLECTION OF SUBLIME AND ELEGANT EXTRACTS, FROM THE MOST EMINENT WRITERS, ON Morals, Religion, and Government. "We frequently fall into error and folly, not because the true principles of action are not known, but because, for a time, they are not remembered. He may therefore justly be numbered among the benefactors of mankind, who contracts the great rules of life into short sentences, that may be easily impressed on the memory, and taught by frequent recollection to recur habitually to the mind."-- Rambler. By MATHEW CAREY. SECOND EDITION. PRINTED FOR THE EDITOR, No. 118, MARKET-STREET, PHILADELPHIA, By S.C. USTICK, Burlington, N.J. 1803. Copyright secured. Pg. 213]