JOHN HANCOCK

(1737-1793)

OHN HANCOCK, President of the Continental Congress and first signer of the Declaration of Independence, made, on March 5th, 1774, a speech on the Anniversary of the Boston Massacre which became historic as the first adequate expression of American detestation of standing armies. He was a deliberate thinker and his speeches show a related deliberation of expression, but he could use metaphors which were likely to be greatly admired by an audience of that day in sympathy with his views-as when in his Boston Massacre address he said: "Death is a creature of the poltroon's brains; 'tis immortality to sacrifice ourselves for the salvation of our country. We fear not death. That gloomy night, the pale-faced moon, and the affrighted stars that hurried through the sky can witness that we fear not death."

He was born at Quincy, Massachusetts, January 12th, 1737, and died there, October 8th, 1793, after a life of the highest usefulness, during which he had been President of the Provincial Congress of 1774 and 1775, President of the Continental Congress from 1775 to 1777, signer of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, and in 1788 chairman of the Massachusetts Convention which ratified the Federal Constitution.

MOVING THE ADOPTION OF THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION (Delivered in the Massachusetts Convention of 1788)

Gentlemen:

B'

EING now called upon to bring the subject under debate to a decision, by bringing forward the question, I beg your indulgence to close the business with a few remarks. I am happy that my health has been so far restored that I am rendered able to meet my fellow-citizens as represented in this convention. I should have considered it as one of the most distressing misfortunes of my life to be deprived of giving my aid and support to a system which, if amended (as I feel assured it will be)

according to your proposals, cannot fail to give the people of the United States a greater degree of political freedom, and eventually as much national dignity as falls to the lot of any nation on earth. I have not, since I had the honor to be in this place, said much on the important subject before us. All the ideas apper

taining to the system, as well those which are against as for it, have been debated upon with so much learning and ability that the subject is quite exhausted.

But you will permit me, gentlemen, to close the whole with one or two general observations. This I request, not expecting to throw any new light on the subject, but because it may possibly prevent uneasiness and discordance from taking place amongst us and amongst our constituents.

That a general system of government is indispensably necessary to save our country from ruin is agreed upon all sides. That the one now to be decided upon has its defects, all agree; but when we consider the variety of interests and the different habits of the men it is intended for, it would be very singular to have an entire union of sentiment respecting it. Were the people of the United States to delegate the powers proposed to be given to men who were not dependent on them frequently for elections, to men whose interest, either from rank or title, would differ from that of their fellow-citizens in common,- the task of delegating authority would be vastly more difficult; but, as the matter now stands, the powers reserved by the people render them secure, and, until they themselves become corrupt, they will always have upright and able rulers. I give my assent to the Constitution in full confidence that the amendments proposed will soon become a part of the system. These amendments being in no wise local, but calculated to give security and ease alike to all the States, I think that all will agree to them.

Suffer me to add that, let the question be decided as it may, there can be no triumph on the one side or chagrin on the other. Should there be a great division, every good man, every man who loves his country, will be so far from exhibiting extraordinary marks of joy, that he will sincerely lament the want of unanimity, and strenuously endeavor to cultivate a spirit of conciliation, both in convention and at home. The people of this Commonwealth are a people of a great light-of great intelligence in public business. They know that we have none of us an interest separate from theirs; that it must be our happiness