Here is Gerry's exact quote:
"What, sir, is the use of a militia? It is to prevent the establishment of a standing army, the bane of liberty."
Other quotes from libertarian revolutionaries:
In a letter to Thomas Jefferson on May 26th, 1788, George Mason wrote that "There are many ... things very objectionable in the proposed new Constitution; particularly the almost unlimited Authority over the Militia of the several States; whereby, under Colour of regulating they may disarm, or render useless the Militia, the more easily to govern by a standing Army."
Thomas Jefferson in a letter to Francis Hopkinson (March 13, 1789) wrote that "a bill of rights [must] secure freedom in religion, freedom of the press, [and] freedom from a permanent military..."
Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, on December 20, 1787, wrote that a Bill of Rights must "provide clearly...for freedom of religion, freedom of the press, [and] protection against standing armies..."
Thomas Jefferson to Madison, on July 31, 1788, Jefferson wrote that "It seems generally understood that [a Bill of Rights] should go to Juries, Habeas corpus, [and] Standing Armies..."