"The Constitution is not an instrument for government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government - lest it come to dominate our lives and interests." - Patrick Henry

"The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people." - Ninth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

"The powers delegated by the proposed Constitutionto the federal government are few and defined.  Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite.  The former will be exercised principally on external objects, as war, peace, negotiation and foreign commerce.  The powers reserved to the several States will extend to all the objects which in the ordinary course of affairs, concern the lives and liberties, and properties of the people, and the internal order, improvement and prosperity of the State." - James Madison, author of our Constitution, in Federalist Paper No. 45

"A constitution is not hte act of a government, but of a people constituting a government; and government without a constitution is power without a right.  All power exercised over a nation, must have some beginning.  It must be either delegated, or assumed.  There are not other sources.  All delegated power is trust, and all assumed power is usurpation.  Time does not alter the nature and quality of either." - Thomas Paine

"[An] act of the Congress of the United States ... which assumes powers ... not delegated by the Constitution, is not law, but is altogether void and of no force." - Thomas Jefferson

"Though written constitutions may be violated in moments of passion or delusion, they furnish a text to which those who are watchful may again rally and recall the people; they fix too for the people the principles of their political creed." - Thomas Jefferson

"This Constitution ... shall be the supreme Law of the Land; ... Laws ... to the Contrary notwithstanding ... Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers ... shall be bound by Oath ... to support this Constitution ... " - U.S. Constitution

"I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents..." - James Madison