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Richard Henry Lee Quotes

Former President of the Continental Congress

Richard Henry Lee was a prominent politician during the American Revolutionary War, serving as the President of the Continental Congress. Born on January 20, 1732, and passing away on June 19, 1794, Lee played a crucial role in the movement for American independence. He proposed the resolution for the Declaration of Independence in 1776, which was a pivotal moment in the war for American independence.

Famous Richard Henry Lee Quotes

“A militia, when properly formed, are in fact the people themselves... and include all men capable of bearing arms.”

Source: An Additional number of letters from the Federal farmer to the Republican, leading to a fair examination of the system of government, proposed by the late Convention: to several essential and necessary alterations in it; and calculated to illustrate and support the principles and positions laid down in the preceding letters. Together with Oberservations on the new Constitution, and on the Federal and State Conventions by a Columbian patriot

“Militias, when properly formed, are in fact the people themselves and include all men capable of bearing arms. [...] To preserve liberty it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them.”

“The constitution ought to secure a genuine militia and guard against a select militia. ...All regulations tending to render this general militia useless and defenseless, by establishing select corps of militia, or distinct bodies of military men, not having permanent interests and attachments to the community ought to be avoided.”

Men Body Interest Community Military Ought Constitution Genuine Secure Useless Permanent Attachment Regulation Avoided Select Militia Defenseless Military Man

Author:Richard Henry Lee

“The first maxim of a man who loves liberty, should be never to grant to rulers an atom of power that is not most clearly and indispensably necessary for the safety and well being of society.”

Men Should Firsts Wells Political Freedom Liberty Power Society Politician Safety Well Being Grants Atoms Rulers Indispensable Maxims

Book:Memoir of the Life of Richard H. Lee, and His Correspondence with the Most Distinguished Men in America and Europe

Source: Memoir of the Life of Richard H. Lee, and His Correspondence with the Most Distinguished Men in America and Europe

“Whereas, to preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them; nor does it follow from this, that all promiscuously must go into actual service on every occasion. The mind that aims at a select militia, must be influenced by a truly anti-republican principle; and when we see many men disposed to practice upon it, whenever they can prevail, no wonder true republicans are for carefully guarding against it.”

Richard Henry Lee Quotes

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Famous Richard Henry Lee Quotes