Simone Lawson
Melancton Smith (1744–1798) was a New York delegate to the Continental Congress, a lawyer, and a merchant. He was an Anti-Federalist and played a central role in the ratification of the United States Constitution. Smith was initially opposed to the ratification of the Constitution, but eventually voted in favour of it, with the recommendation of amendments. This decision brought New York into the Union without conflict. Smith is also known for his writings, including letters and essays, that provide insight into his political beliefs and his role in the Constitutional debates.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | May 7, 1744 |
| Place of Birth | Jamaica, Long Island, New York |
| Profession | Merchant, Lawyer |
| Political Affiliation | Anti-Federalist |
| Role in the Constitution | Played an active role in the ratification of the United States Constitution, voted for the Constitution with the recommendation of amendments |
| Other Political Roles | New York delegate to the Continental Congress, Delegate to the First Provincial Congress in New York, Delegate to the New York Ratification Convention, Member of the State Assembly |
| Writings | Likely author of prominent Anti-Federalist essays such as Brutus and The Federal Farmer |
| Death | Died during the yellow fever epidemic in New York City in 1798 |
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What You'll Learn
Melancton Smith's role in the ratification of the US Constitution
Melancton Smith (1744 – 1798) was a New York delegate to the Continental Congress, a lawyer, and a merchant. He was also a prominent Anti-Federalist and played a central role in the ratification of the US Constitution.
Smith was born in Jamaica, Long Island, New York, and became involved in the mercantile business when his family moved to Poughkeepsie, New York. He was elected to the Provincial Congress in 1775 and, during the Revolutionary War, served as Sheriff of Dutchess County, working to root out Loyalist sympathizers in the area.
As a leading Anti-Federalist, Smith initially opposed the ratification of the Constitution. He is believed to have authored prominent Anti-Federalist essays, including "Brutus" and "The Federal Farmer", which encouraged voters to reject ratification. Smith also played an active role in the New York Ratification Convention, where he made arguments against ratification and engaged in heated debates with Federalists like Alexander Hamilton.
However, Smith ultimately changed his mind and voted for the Constitution, with the recommendation of amendments. This decision was influenced by the ratification of the Constitution by New Hampshire and Virginia, as well as a letter from his friend Nathan Dane, who argued that New York could not afford to wait for amendments due to external threats. Smith's vote broke Anti-Federalist ranks and brought New York into the Union without violence or chaos, easing the beginning of the nation.
In conclusion, Melancton Smith's role in the ratification of the US Constitution was complex and significant. As a leading Anti-Federalist, he initially opposed ratification and made compelling arguments against it. However, his eventual vote in favor of the Constitution, influenced by practical considerations, played a crucial role in bringing New York into the Union and shaping the early United States.
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Smith's political career
Melancton Smith (May 7, 1744 – July 29, 1798) was a New York delegate to the Continental Congress, a merchant, and a lawyer. He was born in Jamaica, Long Island, New York, and was homeschooled by his parents. When his family moved to Poughkeepsie, New York, he became involved in the mercantile business. Smith had a life-long interest in metaphysics and religion and helped organize the Washington Hollow Presbyterian Church in 1769.
On February 11, 1777, Smith became one of three members of a Dutchess County commission for "inquiring into, detecting and defeating all conspiracies ... against the liberties of America." He served in this role for six months, administering oaths of allegiance, arresting suspects, and examining Loyalists. During this time, he also served as sheriff of Dutchess County and extended his landholdings by purchasing forfeited Loyalist estates. In 1781, Smith was selected to be the Second Judge on the Court of Common Pleas and was elected Justice of the Peace in Dutchess County. He held both positions until 1784 when he moved to New York City.
In New York City, Smith became a prominent merchant and helped found the New York Manumission Society in opposition to slavery. He served in the Continental Congress from 1785 to 1787 and played an active role in writing the Northwest Ordinance of 1787. Smith was a leading Anti-Federalist and a delegate to the New York Ratification Convention in 1788. He made many of the same arguments as the Federal Farmer and engaged in heated debates with Alexander Hamilton. Smith was characterized as "one of the ablest debaters in the country."
Despite his initial opposition to the Constitution, Smith ultimately voted for its ratification. He was elected to the Assembly in 1791 and canvassed the state for Clinton in 1792 against John Jay. Smith died during the yellow fever epidemic in New York City in 1798 and is buried in Jamaica Cemetery, Jamaica, Queens, New York. He has been cited as the likely author of prominent Anti-Federalist essays, including the essays of Brutus and The Federal Farmer.
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Smith's stance as an Anti-Federalist
Melancton Smith (1744 – 1798) was a New York delegate to the Continental Congress, a lawyer, and a merchant. He is known for his role as an Anti-Federalist and has been described as the most important Anti-Federalist theorist and spokesman. He played a central role in the ratification of the United States Constitution, particularly in New York's ratification convention, where he was a prominent leader of the Anti-Federalists.
In his speeches and writings, Smith expressed his desire for a government that included representatives from different classes, including the middling class, to control the potential tyranny of the wealthy. He wanted a government that resembled those they represented, sympathized with their distresses, and sought their true interests. Smith's stance as an Anti-Federalist was so influential that he was almost able to prevent New York from ratifying the Constitution.
However, after New Hampshire and Virginia joined the Union, Smith changed his mind. Heeding the advice of his friend Nathan Dane, another Anti-Federalist, Smith announced that he would vote for the Constitution. This decision brought New York into the Union without conflict and eased the beginning of the nation. Despite his initial opposition, Smith ultimately voted for the Constitution, albeit with the recommendation of amendments. This vote broke Anti-Federalist ranks and brought down the wrath of Governor George Clinton, with whom Smith had previously been aligned.
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Smith's writings and essays
Melancton Smith (1744–1798) was a merchant, lawyer, and New York delegate to the Continental Congress. He is known for his role as an Anti-Federalist during the Constitutional Ratification Debates and is described by modern scholars as the most important Anti-Federalist theorist and spokesman.
Smith's writings also include his letters, such as the one dated May 15, 1789, which details his thoughts about the federal constitution and his zeal for the cause of liberty. He also corresponded with James Cooper and Gilbert Livingston on business, financial, and political matters.
Additionally, Smith has been cited as the likely author of some prominent Anti-Federalist essays written under pseudonyms to encourage voters to reject the ratification of the Constitution. These include the essays of Brutus and The Federal Farmer. While some initially attributed these essays to Robert Yates and Richard Henry Lee, scholars have recently cast doubt on those claims, instead suggesting that Smith was the true author of both sets of essays. This conclusion is supported by computational analyses of the writing styles, which found a strong resemblance to Smith's other writings. However, some argue that Smith may have collaborated closely with other Anti-Federalists instead of solely authoring the essays.
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Smith's legacy and death
Melancton Smith (May 7, 1744–July 29, 1798) was a New York delegate to the Continental Congress, a merchant, and a lawyer. He is remembered for his intelligence, liberality, and reasonableness, and was respected across New York State by 1787. Modern scholars have described Smith as the most important Anti-Federalist theorist and spokesman. He played a central role in the ratification of the United States Constitution.
Smith was born in Jamaica, Long Island, New York, and was homeschooled by his parents. When his family moved to Poughkeepsie, he became involved in the mercantile business. He showed a life-long interest in metaphysics and religion and helped organize the Washington Hollow Presbyterian Church in 1769. He became a delegate to the first New York Provincial Congress in 1775. On February 11, 1777, he became one of three members of a Dutchess County commission tasked with "inquiring into, detecting and defeating all conspiracies... against the liberties of America." He also served as the sheriff of Dutchess County from 1777 to 1781, during which he extended his landholdings by purchasing forfeited Loyalist estates. In 1782, he was selected as the Second Judge on the Court of Common Pleas and elected Justice of the Peace in Dutchess County, positions he held until 1784 when he moved to New York City.
In New York City, Smith became a prominent merchant and helped found the New York Manumission Society, which opposed slavery. He served in the Continental Congress from 1785 to 1787 and played an active role in the writing of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787. As an Anti-Federalist, Smith was a delegate to the New York Ratification Convention in 1788, where he made arguments against the ratification of the Constitution. He engaged in heated debates with Alexander Hamilton and was characterized as "one of the ablest debaters in the country."
However, after New Hampshire and Virginia ratified the Constitution, Smith received a letter from his friend Nathan Dane, another Anti-Federalist, who advised him that New York could not afford to wait for amendments and that non-ratification would only lead to violence and chaos. Swayed by these arguments, Smith changed his mind and voted for the Constitution, bringing New York into the Union without conflict.
Smith was elected to the Assembly in 1791 and canvassed the state for Clinton in 1792 against John Jay. He died during the yellow fever epidemic in New York City in 1798 and is buried in Jamaica Cemetery, Jamaica, Queens, New York. Smith is also known for his likely authorship of prominent Anti-Federalist essays, including the essays of Brutus and The Federal Farmer, which encouraged voters to reject ratification of the Constitution. Computational analyses of his writings strongly suggest his authorship, and he is considered the most likely author compared to other attributed writers.
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Frequently asked questions
Melancton Smith did not sign the Constitution. However, as a delegate to the New York Ratification Convention and leader of the Anti-Federalists, he voted for the Constitution, which brought New York into the Union without a fight.
Melancton Smith was one of the most outspoken Anti-Federalists during the Constitutional Ratification Debates. He was a delegate to the New York Ratification Convention and almost prevented New York from ratifying the Constitution.
Melancton Smith was initially against the ratification of the Constitution. However, after New Hampshire and Virginia joined the Union, he changed his mind and voted for the Constitution, albeit with the recommendation of amendments. He also opposed the Constitution's three-fifths clause, which strengthened the power of slave states.
