"The inhabitants of the United States have immemorially claimed the right of possessing arms for the defence of their houses, their lives, and property..."

   "Your memorialists might conclude their petition with these observations, but the great importance of the proposed Law, not only in respect to the revenue and commercial prosperity of the United States, but as it may affect the right of every citizen to keep and bear arms will it is hoped, be their excuse for subjoining a few additional observations on the subject.

   "The inhabitants of the United States have immemorially claimed the right of possessing arms for the defence of their houses, their lives, and property; this privilege has neither been surrendered, nor abridged, and every citizen, whether at home or upon the ocean has believed that he might lawfully carry arms in self-defence. If this right be deemed important in the bosom of the state, where the laws and magistrates are ready to protect the citizen, how much more important must it be considered on the high seas, where every nation has a common jurisdiction, but nation an exclusive one, where every nation is bound to afford protection to the persons and property of its citizens, but nation has magistrates to grant it, where aggression is most frequent and the means of defence most necessary.

   "Signed, By order of the Corporation of the Chamber of Commerce. JOHN MURRAY, President, New-York, 21st Dec. 1804.

[THE BALANCE AND COLUMBIAN REPOSITORY. Vol. IV....1805. Hudson, (New-York :) PUBLISHED BT HARRY CROSWELL. Pg. 14]