Simone Lawson
Luther Martin (1748-1826) was a Founding Father of the United States, a lawyer, a politician, and a delegate from Maryland to the Constitutional Convention in 1787. He was an early advocate for American independence from Great Britain and played a significant role in the country's pursuit of independence. However, despite his attendance at the Constitutional Convention, Martin did not sign the Constitution. This paragraph will explore the reasons behind his refusal to sign and the subsequent impact on his political career.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Signing of the United States Constitution | 17th September 1787 |
| Location | Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Number of delegates signing | 39 out of 74 |
| Luther Martin's signature | Absent |
| Reason for absence | Left convention early as he felt the document violated states' rights |
| Post-convention | Leading Anti-Federalist; advocated against the proposed form of government |
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What You'll Learn
Luther Martin's opposition to the US Constitution
Luther Martin (1748-1826) was a Founding Father of the United States, a lawyer, and a delegate from Maryland to the Constitutional Convention in 1787. However, he did not sign the Constitution, as he felt it violated states' rights and granted the federal government too much power over state governments.
Martin was a vocal opponent of the Virginia Plan, which proposed proportionate representation in both houses of the legislature. He supported equal numbers of delegates in at least one house and was concerned about the power of large states over small ones. He also opposed the creation of a strong central government, believing it would threaten individual rights and freedoms. In particular, he warned that federal control over habeas corpus could lead to the indefinite imprisonment of individuals and the silencing of opposition.
Martin was also a critic of slavery, denouncing it as "an odious bargain with sin" and inconsistent with the principles of the American Revolution. He argued that slavery had no place in a nation that claimed to protect liberty. Despite owning six slaves himself, he opposed including slaves in determining representation, as he believed it would increase the power of slave states.
In addition, Martin attacked the proposed new form of government in newspaper articles and addresses to the Maryland House of Delegates. He believed that the aggrandizement of particular states and individuals was pursued more avidly than the welfare of the country. He also disliked the term "federal" being assumed by those who favoured a national government.
Martin's warnings about the Constitution's potential to erode state sovereignty and consolidate power proved prescient, as they foreshadowed real constitutional struggles in American history.
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His reasons for not signing
Luther Martin was a delegate from Maryland to the Constitutional Convention in 1787, but he did not sign the Constitution. There were several reasons for his refusal to sign the document.
Firstly, Martin felt that the proposed Constitution violated states' rights. He believed that the new government would have too much power over state governments and would threaten individual rights. He wanted to protect the rights of small states and prevent them from being dominated by large ones. He supported the case for equal numbers of delegates in at least one house.
Secondly, Martin was concerned about the absence of a bill of rights. He was a strong advocate for individual freedom and believed that the proposed Constitution did not adequately protect these rights. He wanted to see a bill of rights included in the Constitution to safeguard liberties such as trial by jury.
Thirdly, Martin opposed slavery and believed that the proposed Constitution did not go far enough to address this issue. He denounced slavery as "an odious bargain with sin" and felt that it was inconsistent with the principles of the American Revolution. He also opposed including slaves in determining representation, which was a position contrary to most other slave owners.
Finally, Martin had suspicions about the secrecy rule imposed on the proceedings of the Constitutional Convention. He believed that the aggrandizement of particular states and individuals was pursued more avidly than the welfare of the country. He also disliked the assumption of the term "federal" by those who favoured a national government.
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His role in the Constitutional Convention
Luther Martin was a delegate from Maryland to the Constitutional Convention in 1787, but he did not sign the Constitution. He left the convention early because he felt the proposed document violated states' rights. In the following months, he became a leading Anti-Federalist, and his efforts, along with those of Patrick Henry and George Mason, led to the passage of the Bill of Rights.
Martin was an early advocate of American independence from Great Britain. In 1774, he served on the patriot committee of Somerset County, Maryland, and attended a convention of the Province of Maryland in Annapolis, which considered the recommendations of the Continental Congress. In 1785, he was elected to the Confederation Congress by the Maryland General Assembly, but he was unable to attend due to his numerous public and private duties.
Martin played an active role in the Constitutional Convention of 1787. He expressed suspicion of the secrecy rule imposed on the proceedings and opposed the creation of a government where large states would dominate small ones. He consistently sided with the small states, helping to formulate the New Jersey Plan and voting against the Virginia Plan. On June 27, 1787, he spoke for over three hours against the Virginia Plan's proposal for proportionate representation in both houses of the legislature. He was known for his warm opposition to a strong central government.
Martin served on the committee formed to seek a compromise on representation, where he supported equal numbers of delegates in at least one house. However, before the convention closed, he became convinced that the new government would have too much power over state governments and threaten individual rights. Failing to find support for a bill of rights, Martin and another Maryland delegate, John Francis Mercer, walked out of the convention on September 3, 1787.
Martin was one of the most vocal opponents of slavery at the Constitutional Convention, denouncing it as "an odious bargain with sin." He continued to criticise the proposed form of government and fought against the ratification of the Constitution through 1788. He also opposed including slaves in determining representation, believing that the absence of a jury in the U.S. Supreme Court endangered freedom. Despite Martin's efforts, Maryland voted to ratify the Constitution in April 1788, becoming the seventh state to do so.
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His views on slavery
Luther Martin (1748-1826) was a Founding Father of the United States, a lawyer, a politician, and a slave owner. He was a delegate from Maryland to the Constitutional Convention in 1787 but did not sign the Constitution, as he felt the document as proposed violated states' rights.
Martin was one of the most vocal opponents of slavery at the Constitutional Convention. He denounced it as "an odious bargain with sin" that was "inconsistent with the principles of the revolution and dishonorable to the American character." He believed that slavery was "inconsistent with the genius of republicanism" and that it tended to "destroy those principles on which it is supported, as it lessens the sense of equal rights of mankind, and habituates us to tyranny and oppression."
Martin argued that the continuation of the slave trade and its sanction by the nation would:
> justly expose us to the displeasure and vengeance of Him, who is equal Lord of all, and who views with equal eye, the poor African slave and his American Master!
Martin also opposed including slaves in determining representation. Most slave owners supported counting slaves for the purposes of determining representation as this would increase the power of Slave States. However, Martin, despite owning six slaves himself, believed that the absence of a jury in the U.S. Supreme Court gravely endangered freedom.
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His later career
Luther Martin (1748-1826) was a Founding Father of the United States, a lawyer, a politician, and a slave owner. He was a delegate from Maryland to the Constitutional Convention in 1787 but did not sign the Constitution, as he felt it violated states' rights. In the months following the convention, he was a leading Anti-Federalist and played a key role in the passage of the Bill of Rights.
Martin's later career was marked by his continued opposition to the Constitution and his advocacy for states' rights and individual liberties. He served as a delegate to the Maryland State Convention of 1788, where he unsuccessfully argued against Maryland's ratification of the Constitution. Despite his efforts, Maryland became the seventh state to ratify the Constitution in April 1788, and it took effect in June when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify.
Martin remained critical of the new form of government and the ascension of the national government over the states. He believed that the absence of a jury in the U.S. Supreme Court endangered freedom. He also opposed the inclusion of slaves in determining representation, arguing against the interests of most slave owners.
In the early 19th century, Martin took on the role of defence counsel in two notable national cases. In 1805, he successfully defended his friend Supreme Court Justice Samuel Chase in an impeachment trial. Two years later, in 1807, he was one of the defence lawyers for Aaron Burr, who stood trial for treason.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Luther Martin did not sign the Constitution. He left the convention early because he felt the document as proposed violated states' rights.
Luther Martin believed that the new government would have too much power over state governments and would threaten individual rights. He also opposed the idea of a strong central government.
Luther Martin continued to fight the ratification of the Constitution through 1788. He also served as a delegate to the Maryland State Convention of 1788, to vote on whether Maryland should ratify the proposed Constitution of the United States.
Luther Martin was a slave owner, with six slaves of his own. However, he opposed including slaves in determining representation. At the Constitutional Convention, he denounced slavery as "an odious bargain with sin" that was "inconsistent with the principles of the revolution and dishonorable to the American character."
