Luther Martin's Constitutional Influence

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 of American independence from Great Britain and played a significant role in shaping the U.S. Constitution. Martin was known for his opposition to a strong central government and his support for the welfare of smaller states. He was also a vocal opponent of slavery, denouncing it as an odious bargain with sin. However, he did own slaves himself. Martin walked out of the Constitutional Convention early because he felt the proposed document violated states' rights and failed to protect individual freedoms. In the subsequent years, he continued to fight against the ratification of the Constitution and played a key role in the passage of the Bill of Rights.

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Luther Martin was a delegate from Maryland to the Constitutional Convention in 1787

Martin attended the College of New Jersey (later Princeton), graduating with honours in 1766. He then moved to Maryland, where he taught for three years before studying law and being admitted to the Virginia bar in 1771. In 1774, he served on the patriot committee of Somerset County and attended a convention in Annapolis to consider the recommendations of the Continental Congress. Maryland appointed him as its attorney general in 1778, and he vigorously prosecuted Loyalists.

At the Constitutional Convention, Martin consistently sided with the small states and voted against the Virginia Plan, which proposed proportionate representation in both houses of the legislature. He believed that the legislative branch should be unicameral and proposed limiting the standing army during peacetime. He also served on a committee seeking a compromise on representation, where he supported equal numbers of delegates in at least one house of government.

Martin ultimately walked out of the convention, refusing to sign the Constitution because he felt it violated states' rights and threatened individual liberties. He continued to fight against ratification through 1788, addressing the Maryland House of Delegates and writing numerous newspaper articles attacking the proposed new form of government. Despite his efforts, Maryland ratified the Constitution in April 1788, becoming the seventh state to do so.

He opposed the Virginia Plan's proposal for proportionate representation

Luther Martin (1748-1826) was a Founding Father of the United States, a framer of the US Constitution, a politician, lawyer, and slave owner. He was a delegate from Maryland to the Constitutional Convention in 1787, but he did not sign the Constitution, as he felt the document as proposed violated states' rights.

Martin was an early advocate of American independence from Great Britain. In the fall of 1774, he served on the patriot committee of Somerset County, Maryland, and attended a convention of the Province of Maryland in Annapolis. Maryland appointed him its attorney general in 1778, and in this capacity, he vigorously prosecuted Loyalists.

Martin opposed the Virginia Plan's proposal for proportionate representation in both houses of the legislature. On June 27, 1787, he spoke for more than three hours in opposition to the plan, arguing that it would lead to a strong central government that would dominate the small states. He supported the case for equal numbers of delegates in at least one house of government, which would ensure that small states could maintain their integrity.

Martin was a strong anti-Federalist and consistently sided with the small states. He helped formulate the New Jersey Plan and voted against the Virginia Plan. He was known for his ability to talk, and his speeches often made his fellow delegates uncomfortable. He was also opposed to slavery, denouncing it as "an odious bargain with sin" that was "inconsistent with the principles of the revolution and dishonorable to the American character."

Martin continued to fight ratification of the Constitution through 1788, attacking the proposed new form of government in speeches and newspaper articles. He served as a delegate to the Maryland State Convention of 1788, where most delegates ignored his warnings and voted to ratify the Constitution, making Maryland the seventh state to do so.

He supported the case for equal numbers of delegates in at least one house of government

Luther Martin was a delegate from Maryland to the Constitutional Convention in 1787. He was a Founding Father of the United States, a framer of the U.S. Constitution, and a lawyer.

Martin supported the case for equal numbers of delegates in at least one house of government. He believed that this would ensure that small states could maintain their integrity, regardless of the population size of other states. This stance was in opposition to the Virginia Plan's proposal for proportionate representation in both houses of the legislature. On June 27, 1787, Martin spoke for more than three hours, criticising the Virginia Plan and expressing his suspicion of the secrecy rule imposed on the proceedings. He consistently sided with the small states and voted against the Virginia Plan.

Martin's support for equal representation in at least one house of government was likely influenced by his desire to protect the welfare of the country as a whole, rather than particular states. He was known for his warm opposition to the development of a strong central government and consistently fought against the ratification of the Constitution through 1788. He believed that the new government would have too much power over state governments and would threaten individual rights.

Martin's efforts, along with those of other Anti-Federalists, eventually led to the passage of the Bill of Rights, which protected the rights of individuals and states.

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He was an early advocate of American independence from Great Britain

Luther Martin (1748-1826) was a Founding Father of the United States, a lawyer, a politician, and a slave owner. He was an early advocate of American independence from Great Britain, serving on the patriot committee of Somerset County, Maryland, in 1774. He also attended a convention of the Province of Maryland in Annapolis, which considered the recommendations of the Continental Congress.

Martin was a delegate from Maryland to the Constitutional Convention in 1787, but he did not sign the Constitution. He opposed the creation of a strong central government and consistently sided with the small states, helping to formulate the New Jersey Plan and voting against the Virginia Plan. He believed that the legislative branch should be unicameral and proposed limiting the standing army during peacetime. He also argued that the convention had violated its instructions to revise the Articles of Confederation.

Martin was a strong Anti-Federalist and, along with Patrick Henry and George Mason, worked to pass the Bill of Rights. He was also a vocal opponent of slavery, denouncing it as "an odious bargain with sin."

In addition to his role in shaping the Constitution, Martin also served as Maryland's attorney general for 28 years, vigorously prosecuting Loyalists during the American Revolution. He was also defense counsel in two controversial national cases, winning an acquittal for Supreme Court Justice Samuel Chase in his impeachment trial in 1805 and later defending Aaron Burr in his treason trial in 1807.

He was a leading Anti-Federalist and fought against the ratification of the Constitution

Luther Martin (1748-1826) was a delegate from Maryland to the Constitutional Convention in 1787. He was a vocal opponent of the creation of a strong central government, believing that it would threaten individual rights and states' rights. Martin was suspicious of the secrecy rule imposed on the proceedings and consistently sided with the small states. He voted against the Virginia Plan, which proposed proportionate representation in both houses of the legislature, and instead supported the case for equal numbers of delegates in at least one house of government.

Martin was a leading Anti-Federalist and fought against the ratification of the Constitution. He walked out of the convention early, refusing to sign the document, and continued to fight against ratification through 1788, addressing the Maryland House of Delegates and writing numerous newspaper articles attacking the proposed new form of government. In his address to the Maryland House of Delegates in November 1787, he broke the pledge of secrecy and informed the Maryland legislators that the convention had violated its instructions.

Martin served as a delegate to the Maryland State Convention of 1788, which was convened to vote on whether Maryland should ratify the proposed Constitution. Despite Martin's warnings, the majority of delegates voted in favour of ratification, and Maryland became the seventh state to do so. Martin's efforts, along with those of other Anti-Federalists, eventually led to the passage of the Bill of Rights.

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