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savage not only disdain the virtues and enjoyments of
civilization himself； but shall he control the civilization of a
world？ Shall he forbid the wilderness to blossom like a rose？
Shall he forbid the oaks of the forest to fall before the axe of
industry； and to rise again； transformed into the habitations of
ease and elegance？ shall he doom an immense region of the
globe to perpetual desolation； and to hear the howlings of the
tiger and the wolf silence forever the voice of human gladness？
Shall the fields and the valleys； which a beneficent God has
formed to teem with the life of innumerable multitudes； be
condemned to everlasting barrenness？ Shall the mighty rivers；
poured out by the hand of nature； as channels of
communication between numerous nations； roll their waters in
sullen silence and eternal solitude of the deep？ Have hundreds
of commodious harbors； a thousand leagues of coast； and a
boundless ocean； been spread in the front of this land； and shall
every purpose of utility to which they could apply be prohibited
by the tenant of the woods？ No； generous philanthropists！
Heaven has not been thus inconsistent in the works of its
hands。 Heaven has not thus placed at irreconcilable strife its
moral laws with its physical creation。 The Pilgrims of
Plymouth obtained their right of possession to the territory on
which they settled； by titles as fair and unequivocal as any
human property can be held。 By their voluntary association
they recognized their allegiance to the government of Britain；
and in process of time received whatever powers and
authorities could be conferred upon them by a charter from
their sovereign。 The spot on which they fixed had belonged to
an Indian tribe； totally extirpated by that devouring pestilence
which had swept the country shortly before their arrival。 The
territory； thus free from all exclusive possession； they might
have taken by the natural right of occupancy。 Desirous；
however； of giving amply satisfaction to every pretence of
prior right； by formal and solemn conventions with the chiefs
of the neighboring tribes； they acquired the further security of a
purchase。 At their hands the children of the desert had no
cause of complaint。 On the great day of retribution； what
thousands； what millions of the American race will appear at
the bar of judgment to arraign their European invading
conquerors！ Let us humbly hope that the fathers of the
Plymouth Colony will then appear in the whiteness of
innocence。 Let us indulge in the belief that they will not only
be free from all accusation of injustice to these unfortunate
sons of nature； but that the testimonials of their acts of
kindness and benevolence toward them will plead the cause of
their virtues； as they are now authenticated by the record of
history upon earth。
Religious discord has lost her sting； the cumbrous weapons
of theological warfare are antiquated； the field of politics
supplies the alchemists of our times with materials of more
fatal explosion； and the butchers of mankind no longer travel to
another world for instruments of cruelty and destruction。 Our
age is too enlightened to contend upon topics which concern
only the interests of eternity； the men who hold in proper
contempt all controversies about trifles； except such as inflame
their own passions； have made it a commonplace censure
against your ancestors； that their zeal was enkindled by
subjects of trivial importance； and that however aggrieved by
the intolerance of others； they were alike intolerant themselves。
Against these objections； your candid judgment will not require
an unqualified justification； but your respect and gratitude for
the founders of the State may boldly claim an ample apology。
The original grounds of their separation from the Church of
England were not objects of a magnitude to dissolve the bonds
of communion； much less those of charity； between Christian
brethren of the same essential principles。 Some of them；
however； were not inconsiderable； and numerous inducements
concurred to give them an extraordinary interest in their eyes。
When that portentous system of abuses； the Papal dominion；
was overturned； a great variety of religious sects arose in its
stead in the several countries； which for many centuries before
had been screwed beneath its subjection。 The fabric of the
Reformation； first undertaken in England upon a contracted
basis； by a capricious and sanguinary tyrant； had been
successively overthrown and restored； renewed and altered；
according to the varying humors and principles of four
successive monarchs。 To ascertain the precise point of division
between the genuine institutions of Christianity and the
corruptions accumulated upon them in the progress of fifteen
centuries； was found a task of extreme difficulty throughout
the Christian world。
Men of the profoundest learning； of the sublimest genius； and
of the purest integrity； after devoting their lives to the research；
finally differed in their ideas upon many great points； both of
doctrine and discipline。 The main question； it was admitted on
all hands； most intimately concerned the highest interests of
man； both temporal and eternal。 Can we wonder that men who
felt their happiness here and their hopes of hereafter； their
worldly welfare and the kingdom of heaven at stake； should
sometimes attach an importance beyond their intrinsic weight
to collateral points of controversy； connected with the all…
involving object of the Reformation？ The changes in the forms
and principles of religious worship were introduced and
regulated in England by the hand of public authority。 But that
hand had not been uniform or steady in its operations。 During
the persecutions inflicted in the interval of Popish restoration
under the reign of Mary； upon all who favored the
Reformation； many of the most zealous reformers had been
compelled to fly their country。 While residing on the continent
of Europe； they had adopted the principles of the most
complete and rigorous reformation； as taught and established
by Calvin。 On returning afterward to their native country； they
were dissatisfied with the partial reformation； at which； as they
conceived； the English establishment had rested； and claiming
the privilege of private conscience； upon which alone any
departure from the Church of Rome could be justified； they
insisted upon the right of adhering to the system of their own
preference； and； of course； upon that of non…conformity to the
establishment prescribed by the royal authority。 The only
means used to convince them of error and reclaim them from
dissent was force； and force served but to confirm the
opposition it was meant to suppress。 By driving the founders
of the Plymouth Colony into exile； it constrained them to
absolute separation irreconcilable。 Viewing their religious
liberties here； as held only by sufferance； yet bound to them by
all the ties of conviction； and by all their sufferings for them；
could they forbear to look upon every dissenter among
themselves with a jealous eye？ Within two years after their
landing； they beheld a rival settlement attempted in their
immediate neighborhood； and not long after； the laws of self…
preservation compelled them to break up a nest of revellers；
who boasted of protection from the mother country； and who
had recurred to the easy but pernicious resource of feeding
their wanton idleness； by furnishing the savages with the
means； the skill； and the instruments of European destruction。
Toleration； in that instance； would have been self…murder； and
many other examples might be alleged； in which their necessary
measures of self…defence have been exaggerated into cruelty；
and their most indispensable precautions distorted into
persecution。 Yet shall we not pretend that they were exempt
from the common laws of mortality； or entirely free from all
the errors of their age。 Their zeal might sometimes be too
ardent； but it was always sincere。 At this day； religious
indulgence is one of our clearest duties； because it is one of our
undisputed rights。 While we rejoice that the principles of
genuine Christianity have so far triumphed over the prejudices
of a former generation； let us fervently hope for the day when
it will prove equally victorious over the malignant passions of
our own。
In thus calling your attention to some of the peculiar features
in the principles； the character； and the history of our
forefathers； it is as wide from my design； as I know it would be
from your approbation； to adorn their memory with a chaplet
plucked from the domain of others。 The occasion and the day
are more peculiarly devoted to them； and let it never be
dishonored with a contracted and exclusive spirit。 Our
affections as citizens embrace the whole extent of the Union；
and the names of Raleigh； Smith； Winthrop； Cal