""That article of the constitution of the United States, respecting the militia, expressly directs, that Congress shall 'provide for arming' the militia. They have not done it. The National Legislature have neglected what they ought have done the moment it was in their power, to have apportioned arms, accoutrements, &c. to the amount, at least, of one-sixth of the number of the enrolled militia; established arsenals for their preservation, with magazines of powder and ball, and camp equipage, &c. But, instead of doing this, Congress, by their militia law of 1792, order every citizen enrolled to provide himself with arms, &c. and in five years require all muskets to have bores sufficient for balls of the eighteenth part of a pound... The amendment of the constitution of the United States, cited, secures 'the right of the people to keep and bear arms;' nor will the constitution of the United States, or the rights of the States, or of the people, be infringed, and I am very confident not endangered, if the concurrent authority of the National Government is exercised to provide arms, establish magazines, &c. and to arm indeed the great body of the militia of the United States.""