During House debate on proposed amendments to the Constitution for the united States, anti-Washington (constitutionalist) Representative Eldridge Gerry, of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, calls for preservation of strong State Militias as the best way to prevent the establishment of a standing (large, peacetime professional) army:

       What, sir, is the use of a militia?  It is to prevent the establishment of a standing army, the bane of liberty.  Now, it must be evident, that, under this provision, together with their other powers, Congress could take such measures with respect to a militia, as to make a standing army necessary.  Whenever Governments mean to invade the rights and liberties of the people, they always attempt to destroy the militia, in order to raise an army upon their ruins.

       [added 10/9/2021] Thanks to Freedom’s Phoenix for this entry.