Hamilton reasons that if there should be a need for a standing army, there should at least also be a disciplined militia to offset the power of the army.
quote:
"But though the scheme of disciplining the whole nation must be abandoned as mischievous or impracticable; yet it is a matter of the utmost importance that a well-digested plan should, as soon as possible, be adopted for the proper establishment of the militia. The attention of the government ought particularly to be directed to the formation of a select corps of moderate extent, upon such principles as will really fit them for service in case of need. By thus circumscribing the plan, it will be possible to have an excellent body of well-trained militia, ready to take the field whenever the defense of the State shall require it. This will not only lessen the call for military establishments, but if circumstances should at any time oblige the government to form an army of any magnitude that army can never be formidable to the liberties of the people while there is a large body of citizens, little, if at all, inferior to them in discipline and the use of arms, who stand ready to defend their own rights and those of their fellow-citizens. This appears to me the only substitute that can be devised for a standing army, and the best possible security against it, if it should exist."
Notice Hamilton's phrase "there is a large body of citizens, little, if at all, inferior to them in discipline and the use of arms..." That means the Framers expected the people to be armed similarly to the army.
-PJ
One can never go wrong in plumbing the depths of America’s greatest political thinker.
Hamilton came to Washington’s attention as he was reviewing a parade of bedraggled, pathetic militas. His he created with the remainder of his college funds from that raised by the Governor of St. Croix. He then trained it to perfection.
After seeing it Washington wanted Hamilton as a staff member. He accepted and served through almost the entire Revolutionary War.
He was like a son to Washington.