Editing James Madison (section)

== Speech Relevance ==
<BLOCKQUOTE>''The struggle of those who believe that a few have the right to rule the many as against those who believe in individual liberty.  James Madison speaking before the [[Virginia convention]] in 1788 said, "Since the general civilization of mankind, I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachment of those in power, than by violent and sudden usurpation."''</BLOCKQUOTE>
Madison did, indeed, make this claim in a speech to the Virginia Ratifying Convention on June 16, 1788. He went on to say:
<blockquote>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. If we go over the whole history of the ancient and modern republics, we shall find their destruction to have generally resulted from those causes.</blockquote>