Excerpt from Responsibilities of the Founders of Republics: An Address on the Peninsula of Sabino, on the Two-Hundred and Fifty-Eighth Anniversary of the Planting of the Popham Colony, Aug, 29, 1865

The salient point of American Colonization before this, was Plymouth. All our hopes seemed to be set there, all our aspirations seemed to take origin in that spot. Now, it will be understood on this occasion, and on all similar occasions in future, that it is not the design of the Popham celebration to transport Plymouth Rock to this spot, neither to underrate the efforts of the early settlers of Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay, or of those of Lord Baltimore, at Baltimore, or of the settlements of Jamestown in Virginia. Noris this the arena to prove that Puritanism is better than Episcopalianism, or that Episcopalianism is better than Puritanism. We do not propose that this is to be the sign of a conflict between Episcopacy and Puritanism, but we do say, that there is an historical record, and that record is founded on truth, and with truth we propose to deal.

After the discovery of America by Columbus, various enterprises were set on foot for the occupation of the Atlantic shores of this continent. A long interval, however, elapsed before any purposes were accomplished, having reference to the settlement of the region now known as New England. Petitions had been made to the Crown of England as early as 1574, for measures to be allowed tending to secure the possession of the northern parts of North America. In 1578, Elizabeth granted a charter to Sir Humphrey Gilbert, embracing a large territory, the central portion of which appears to have been Nova Scotia. The loss of the charter by lapse to the Crown followed the cessation of occupancy, and, in consequence of the loss of the patentee (Gilbert) by shipwreck, the Crown was left at liberty to make a new grant. Several expeditions followed, under Gosnold, 1602 , Pryng, 1603, and George Weymouth, in 1605, in all of which, the evidence shows that the mind, means, and energy of Sir Ferdinando Gorges were specially concerned.

The French government was at the same time eager to secure a title to the lands in the New World, and, in 1603, gave a patent to the De Monts, covering the region from the 40º of latitude to New Brunswick, and, in 1604, the De Monts made a voyage for exploration and occupancy.

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