“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 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.” —Federal Farmer (1787)

Though it is a matter of some controversy as to who the Federal Farmer exactly was between three men, the above quote is most often attributed to Richard Henry Lee.

Text of the letters from the Anti-Federalist known as the Federal Farmer may be read here:

http://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/ford-pamphlets-on-the-constitution-of-the-united-states-1787-1788#lf1338_head_020

There is an importance to knowing and understanding the material found in the writings of the Anti-Federalists.  The case is well made that absent these writings, the Bill of Rights would not have been deemed essential to our Constitution.  Can you image the shape of our rights if they had not been?