Luther Martin

Luther Martin was Maryland's Attorney General for 32 years and one of the most colorful figures in American constitutional history. He attended the Constitutional Convention as a delegate, became increasingly alarmed by the centralizing tendencies of the document being drafted, and walked out before its completion. His "Genuine Information" speech to the Maryland legislature — a marathon oration lasting several days — is one of the most detailed insider accounts of the Convention's deliberations.

Key Contributions

Walked out of the Constitutional Convention in protest against centralization

Delivered the "Genuine Information" address — a multi-day account of the Convention's proceedings

Argued that the Constitution violated the mandate of the Convention, which was to amend the Articles, not replace them

Warned that the Supremacy Clause would make federal law override state constitutions

Served as Attorney General of Maryland for 32 years, demonstrating lifelong commitment to state sovereignty

Key Writings

1788

The Genuine Information

A marathon address to the Maryland legislature revealing the internal debates of the Constitutional Convention and arguing against ratification.

Speculative Essay

What Would Luther Martin Say About the Modern Anti-Federalist Party?

Luther Martin walked out of the Constitutional Convention because he saw the fix was in. The delegates had been sent to amend the Articles of Confederation — instead, they secretly drafted an entirely new government. Martin recognized this as a constitutional coup: a small group of men, meeting in secret, replacing the existing government without the consent of the governed. He would see uncomfortable parallels in modern executive governance — where presidents reshape government through executive orders, bypassing the legislative process entirely.

Martin's most important warning was about the Supremacy Clause. He predicted that federal law would systematically override state constitutions, reducing states to administrative districts of the federal government. Today, federal preemption overrides state law on everything from drug policy to environmental regulation. States that legalize marijuana still face federal prosecution. Martin would say: I told you so.

The modern Anti-Federalist Party's insistence on county-level sovereignty would resonate with Martin, who spent his entire career defending Maryland's independence from federal encroachment. He understood that small communities have the most to lose from centralization and the most to gain from local governance.

Martin was not a polished speaker or an elegant writer — he was a brawler. His speeches were long, passionate, and often disorganized. He would admire the modern Anti-Federalist Party's willingness to fight ugly, to take unpopular positions, and to prioritize substance over style. Martin did not care about being liked. He cared about being right.

If Luther Martin were alive today, he would file lawsuits. Against the NSA for violating the Fourth Amendment. Against Congress for delegating legislative authority to executive agencies. Against the Supreme Court for functioning as an unelected legislature. He was a lawyer first and a politician second. He would use every legal tool available to constrain federal power — exactly as he did for 32 years as Maryland's Attorney General.

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