"we have been from our earliest years familiar with the use of fire-arms"

"The American fire has proved more deadly in battle than any other; probably because we have been from our earliest years familiar with the use of fire-arms. The inducements, however, to such an use are fast decreasing. The rapid progress of agriculture, accelerated by the uncommon rewards of labour, is, by constant, though almost imperceptible degrees, impairing the efficiency our arms, by lessening the objects for their use."--Joseph Alston, Governor of South Carolina, Nov. 26, 1816 address to the Senate and House of Representatives. [Dec. 14, 1816 Issue of the National Register, No. 16, Vol. 2, Pg. 245]