"Security to the persons and property of the governed is so evidently the design of civil government that to attempt a logical demonstration of it would be like burning a taper at noonday to assist the sun in enlightening the world. It cannot be either virtuous or honorable to attempt to support institutions of which this is not the principal basis. Some boast of being friends to government. I also am a friend to government--to a righteous government, founded upon the principles of reason and justice--but I glory in avowing my eternal enmity to tyranny." He then portrayed vividly the wrongs inflicted by the mother country and urged his fellow citizens to vindicate their injured rights. On speaking of the massacre his language shows the emotions of his heaving bosom--the feelings of his noble soul. "I come reluctantly to the transactions of that dismal night, when, in quick succession we felt the extremes of grief, astonishment and rage--when Heaven, in anger, suffered hell to take the reins--when Satan, with his chosen band opened the sluices of New England's blood and sacrilegiously polluted her land, with the bodies of her guiltless sons. Let this sad tale be told without a tear--let not the heaving bosom cease to burn with a manly indignation at the relation of it through the long tracts of future time--let every parent tell the story to his listening children till the tears of pity glistens in their eyes or boiling passion shakes their tender frames." "Dark and designing knaves--murderous parricides! how dare you tread upon the earth which has drunk the blood of slaughtered innocence shed by your hands! How dare you breathe that air which wafted to the ear of Heaven the groans of those who fell a sacrifice to your accursed ambition!! But if the laboring earth doth not expand her jaws--if the air you breathe is not commissioned to be the minister of death--yet hear it and tremble! the eye of Heaven penetrates the darkest chambers of the soul and you, though screened from human observation, must be arraigned--must lift up your hands, red with the blood of those whose death you have procured, at the tremendous bar of God." So bold had Mr. Hancock become that the adherents of the crown put every plan and artifice in operation that could be devised to injure him. His worst enemy, the governor, nominated him to the Council, knowing that his acceptance would turn the populace against him. The plan was just as feasible as to think of baking griddle cakes on the moon. By a prompt refusal he put his enemies to shame and increased the confidence the patriots reposed in him. He was at this time Captain of the Governor's Guard and was immediately removed. His company was composed of the first citizens of Boston. As a testimony of respect to him the members promptly dissolved.