Alexander Hamilton, a former Delegate, from New York, to the Constitutional Convention, using the penname “Publius,” publishes “Federalist #26,” assuring in paragraphs 11 and 13 that ratification of the proposed Constitution for the united States will not result in a permanent, standing (large, peacetime, professional) army:

       Schemes to subvert the liberties of a great community REQUIRE TIME to mature them for execution.  An army, so large as seriously to menace those liberties, could only be formed by progressive augmentations; which would suppose, not merely a temporary combination between the legislature and executive, but a continued conspiracy for a series of time. [emphasis in the original]

       [restored 11/29/2024]