U.S. House of Representatives: “There are certain clauses of the Constitution which restrain Congress, as the national legislature, from passing certain laws . . . or the right of the people to keep and bear arms . . . There is no such unlimited, absolute, and sovereign power….”

U.S. House of Representatives, Mr. Wise’s Report, “There are certain clauses of the Constitution which restrain Congress, as the national legislature, from passing certain laws–as that which forbids the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus; the passage of a bill of attainder, or ex post facto law; a law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speeeh or of the press; or the right of the people to assemble and petition; or the right of the people to keep and bear arms . . . There is no such unlimited, absolute, and sovereign power….”, Feb. 17, 1844