April 5 Government destitute of energy will ever produce anarchy. James Madison, 4th President, 1809-1817- Speech in the Virginia Convention on June 5, 1788- As the new nation emerged after the Revolutionary War, there was a general debate concerning whether or not the Articles of Confederation, which loosely bound the states, was sufficient for the future of the nation. The Federalists favored a stronger Federal government, as proposed by the new Constitution, favored and engineered in a large part by Madison. "Opposing them were Patrick Henry, George Mason, William Grayson, James Monroe, John Taylor of Carolina, and other "Anti-Federalists", who believed that the Constitution created a central government that was too powerful. Henry, the leader of this faction, opposed allowing the new central government to directly tax citizens of the various states, and he feared that the newly created office of President of the United States would become far too powerful."From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Madison, George Washington, and Alexander Hamilton were among the proponents of the stronger, more centralized Federal government, with powers of taxation. Madison states, in part, "...Mr. Chairman, in considering this great subject I trust we shall find that part which gives the general government the power of laying and collecting taxes, indispensable and essential to the existence of any efficient, or well organized system of government...If we review the experience we have had, or contemplate the history of nations, here we find ample reasons to prove its expediency...If a government depends on other governments for its revenues: if it must depend on the voluntary contributions of its members, its existence must be precarious...(it)is a solecism in theory, and a mere nullity in practice. Drawn from review of ancient and modern confederacies, is that instead of promoting the public happiness, or securing public tranquility, they have, in every instance, been productive of anarchy and confusion.. and a prey to their own dissensions and foreign invasions...Without energy-without stability-the empire is a nerveless body. If the general government is to depend on the voluntary contribution of the states for its support, dismemberment of the union may be the consequence. In case of eminent danger, the states more immediately exposed to it, would only exert themselves...those remote from it would not interest themselves in that which they did not immediately perceive. The general government ought to be more empowered to defend the whole union..." From "The Writings of James Madison,Edited by Gaillard Hunt,Vol. 5, G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York, 1904, pps 138-141". On June 25, the convention ratified the constitution by a vote of 89 to 79. New York ratified the constitution a month later and the "new" government began operating officially on March 4, 1789 with George Washington taking the oath of office as the first President on April 30, 1789.