[Woahhs]

The main body of the Constitution, Art I Sec 8, IIRC (where the powers of Congress are enumerated), provides for issuance of letters of Marque. Not much point in that if individuals (or groups) cannot own cannon armed ships. They did of course.

A privateer is not a private army.

[El Gato]

A privateer is not a private army.

Never said it was, but it was about as close to an "ultimate weapon" as existed at the time. Much more destructive than a company of militia (sans cannon of course, which many companies of militia *did* own) Organizeed militias were not private armies either, but in most cases not all that far from it.