Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1850-11-14


young Hancock, for he imbibed the principles of
liberty with the breath of MS infancy, and when
circumstances called for manifestation thereof,
they exhibited the sturdy vigor of maturity.
When Parliament adopted those obnoxou.
measures toward America, which Immediately
succeeded the odious Stamp Act, Mr. Hancock was
member of the Provincial Assembly, and, in
Union with those patriots before named and others
Ee determined not TO submit to them. He was
one of the first who proposed and adopted non
Importation measures, system which gradually
spread TO the other colonies, and produced pow
erful effect upon the home government. Open re-
slstance at length became common and the name
ot Hancock figures conspicuously in the commo-
tons that agitated Boston for more than eight
years. He became popular leader and drew
upon himself the direst wrath of offended royalty.
At the time of the Boston Massacre and during
the commotion known as Tea Riot, Mr. Hancock
was bold and active; and in March, I774 on the
occasion OF the anniversary of the Massacre, he
boldly delivered an oration, in which he spoke in
most indignant terms of the acts and measures of
the British Government.
In 1867, Mr. Hancock was elected member
O. the Executive Council, but the choice was so
dtspleasins to the governor that he rejected him
lie was again and again elected, and as often re-
iected and this served to increase his popularity
among the people At last the governor, for rea-
sons not easily OWNED sanctioned his appoint
ment, and received him into the Council.
In l774, the Provincial Congress Of Massachu-
setts unanimously elected Hancock their president
The same year ne was chosen a delegate 10 the
Continental Congress; and was reelected TO the
same station in 1875. When during the summer
OF that year, Peyton Randolph lett the Presiden-
tai chair of that body, John Hancock was elected
to the station,-a gift the most exalted possessed
BY the American people. In that office ne labor
ed arduously, and filled tha; chair the ever
memorable Fourth of July, 1916. AS President
he first signed the Declaration of Independence
and with his alone, II first went forth to the
world His bold signature, the very index OF hi.
characier, mas always excited the admiration of
the beholder
Mr.. Hancock resigned the office of President OF
Congress in 1877 owing to the precarious state of
h.. health and the calls Of his private afaTs
" shich had been necessarily much neglected. and
u
retirement of the domestic circle But that pleas
ure he was not suffered long to enjoy by his fel
low citizens. He was elected member Of the
Convention of Massachusetts, 10 form Constitu-
ton for the government Of that commonwealth.
Taerein he was assiduous usual and upon him
was first conferred the honor, under the instru-
ment of their adoption, OF being Governor of the
TIa -ba F. -bo baL
th.s dignity conferred by the voluntary suffrages
ot the people. He held the Office five consecutive
years by annual election. For two years he de-
clined the honor, but again accepted II, and held
the office until his death, in 1898.
He was governor during the period of confu-
sian which followed the adoption of the Federal
Constitution. and its final ratification by the seve-
raj States and his wisdom and irmness proved
greatly saIutary restraining those lawless acts
which spirit OF disatfection toward the general
government had engendered in New England, and
particularly in Massachusetts, and New Hampshire
o. course MS character and motives were aspersed
BY the interested, but Hhen the agitation ceased
ara the clouds passed away, his virtues and exalt-
ed character, shone with purer lustre than be-
fore.
He was elected member of the Convention Of
Massachusetts to act on the adoption OF the Fede-
raj Constitution, and chosen president OF that
body; but sickness prevented his attendance until
tha last week of the session. He voted for the
adoption of the constitution, and by his influence,
a majority voted with him.
Mr.. Hancock continued popular leader until
the time OF his death, and no one could successful
ly contend with him Tor Office. He was not a man
Of extraordinary talent, but possessed Of that
tact and peculiar genius fitted for the era in which
he lived. He was beloved by all his cotempora-
ries and posterity venerates his name, a bene-
factor of his country. He died the eighth of
October, 1893, in the hfty-hlth year of his age.