美国开国元勋中，几乎个个都是雄辩的演说家。在1788年弗吉尼亚联邦辩论中，共和主义倡导者帕特里克亨利与联邦制倡导者詹姆斯麦迪逊唇枪舌剑针锋相对，慷慨陈词各有千秋。
帕特里克亨利强调：
“revolutions like this have happened in almost every country in Europe; similar examples are to be found in ancient Greece and ancient Rome - instances of the people losing their liberty by their own carelessness and the ambition of a few. ”他提醒人们如果不警惕少数人的野心，他们的自由最终会被剥夺。
詹姆斯麦迪逊则认为：
“Since the general civilization of mankind, I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power, than by violent and sudden usurpations; but, on a candid examination of history, we shall find that turbulence, violence, and abuse of power, by the majority trampling on the rights of the minority, have produced factions and commotions, which, in republics, have, more frequently than any other cause, produced despotism. ”他指出，如果大多数人践踏少数人的权利，更容易产生极权。
正因为这两位具有远见卓识的政治家对少数人的野心和大多数人的滥权都有所警惕，最终导致了《权利法案》的诞生，保证各州和个人的权利不会因联邦政府一方独大而受侵犯。
我们今天在重读这些开国元勋的经典论述的时候，有没有留意到这一点：这些即将大权在握的贵族，农场主和奴隶主，关心的不是如何巩固自己的权力与既得利益，念念不忘的反而是如何对权力的制约，对极权的防范，以及对弱势群体权利的保障。
"权利高于权力。" 这就是亨利与麦迪逊给我的启示。
