Virginia statesman. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1828-1829, 1828-07-02
ROBERT OWEN
I From the Christian Baptist. ]
TO ROBERT OWEN, ESQ.


| Although I cannot agree with YOU, that christi
anity Is YET TO be proved true or false, have no
hesitation in saving that such a discussion Is ne
cessary, as | contemplated in my letter TO Alr. A.
a correspondent In Ohio, and as l have agreed 10
undertake in my acceptance Of your challenge 10
the clergy. Had you seen my acceptance OF
your challenge, before YOU wrote the above eplS-
! tie, II would have appeared to you, think, UNI
necessary 10 have made the proposals witch / see
in your letter before me. BY tins time YOU are,
no doubt, informed that l have accepted your
challenge in ipSiSSimiS DerJiS In the identical terms
YOU proposed II in New Orleans. / take the neg
alive of every position embraced in your chal-
lenge-And | now stand pledged to the public to
show that YOU cannot establish the positions YOU
have so repeatedly proposed, and attempted to do.
|, as a logician wish TO have tangible positions
definitely and unambiguously expressed, and find
those in your challenge are sufficiently so.
As 30 calling in a conference of all the clergy
and such of your scepucd friends as you please,
for the purpose of sort of general CONTEMPLATION,
/ have To remark as this was no part of the chGl
| lenge which have accepted, / can say nothing
about IT, l may, indeed, remark that l have no
objection TO your assembling all your brethren
sceptics from Harmony to Lanark if any place
could be found large enough to hold them But
as only one person can speak AT once, to be UNI
derstood and regarded, l see no good reason for
calling such an dssemblage-For my part, how
ever, / can cordially agree TO your assembling
with YOU in the debate as many Of your scentcal
| friends AS YOU may think proper. For my own
part, although always willing to receive counsel
well intended, and ably rendered, am of opinion
that il is never 10 be solicited until we have some
misgivings as to our own judgement and feel our
confidence in ourselves somewhat shaken
! When our debate is fairly brought to an issue,
and published, by faithful stenographer, every
object is gained which could be gained from any
discussion. admit that all christendom is not
pledged TO the consequences ofmy argument with
YOU; neither are all the scephcs on the continent
obliged to yield TO your fate in the discussion. All
that can be promised from such discussion, Is,
that the arguments and gleanngs oftwo persons
who have espoused the Contrary sides In this no
mentOus question; one of which has devoted all
ms energies to supplah the present order Of sOce-
Nv, and to introduce anOther--the other who has
calmly and dispassonately, without any earthly
emo.ument office, OF bride to progresses him in
favor Of christianity or to labor for It's spread and
prosperity. One Of which has felt so much assu-
rance that all religion Is false and niurouss to So
cety as 20 embolden him to challenge the teachers
of religion tn maintain II if they can-the other
confident Of lis truth and divine excellence, I'M
PEELED by It's precepts, animated by its hopes, and
embroidered by its promises, is willing to hazard
every thing dear to him as a man, as a mortal, mi
an immortal beng, in support Gifts truth and in
hd Of its extension throughout the word.-Such
discussion cannot ta to be pleasing and profita-
bic to dl concerned, and the perusal oft faithful
ly exhibited, Cannot fail to be Of some consequence
10 postenty. You will therefore please to re.
member, Mr.. Owen, that have accepted Of your
challenge, and ali that remains is to settle the pre-
limnaries as soon as possible. have, from a
.ittle experience in public discussions, no doubt
but that ! shall be able to maintain perfect good
humor throughout the whole; and have reason
20 believe that yourphilosOphy has improved your
good nature So far as to make YOU an acceptable
dspuant.
Yours respectfully,
A. CAMPBELL.