New-York daily tribune., 1844-02-13
rev. DR.. Wainwright to Rev. DR.. Potts.

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- .oundnd a retreat from the field to which you
- :, ,,nceremon;ously challenged me- but cannot
-,ern,;t Won to escape without word or two at
parting.
with what good reason you first gave and
then perssted in the challenge, with what tenn
ner You have thus far carried on the controversy,
and with what courtesy you now retire from IT.
leave others to Judge. AS will not presume
rnvself. to decide upoa the proprety OF the steP
von have now taken, as between gentlcfnen' 70
CAV nothing OF its aspect as between ministers
of tho Cosnel. so neither do ! feel disposed to
question it's prudence.
Alter having made bold affirmation, and IN
the progress of eight letters of no very moderate
length advanced one solitary argument IN It's
support, upon being called upon to substantlate
that argument when invalidated, or to bring for,
ward second, not feeling disposed or prepared
to pursue either course, it was perhaps wise IN
YOU to throw up the discussion altogether.
You say that you do not make 'any preten
sions to logic" do not know that any man is
under a moral obligation to understand the
art of reasoning, or to be versed in the CON-
mon and well defined rules of debate. But
perhaps it may not be amlss to suggest that, IN
such an instance, it would be expedent for the
individual, whosoever he might be, not to thrust
himself into positions where the observance of
these rules is fairly imposed upon him.
The assertion you have made, that you have
answered all manner Of questions" is, think,
somewhat yenturesome. | do not remember to
have asked more than one question touching
closely the point in dispute, but that IS a vital
one, for the categorical answer to 1t involves a
principle which lies at the foundation OF the whole
debate It has not been answered plainly and
manfully, and your abrupt termination oi this
discussion sustains me in the belief | expressed
in my last letter. that you dare not answer it in
straight forward manner, yes or no.
Not being able or willing to answer it, and not
having the frankness to say so, and to leave it,
and proceed with second argument, do not sec
what course was left for you to pursue other than
the one you have adopted. Having now with
drawn from the attitude Of dlsputant, you have
of course relieved yourself from the Responsible
ties of one; and you can hcnceiorth manage
your arguments, assertions and analogles as you
pIease, and thus save yourself the trouble OF DC
fendinp hasty and unfortunate premises and lllo
oical differences. I also shall find my advantage
in the arrangement for can now 60 forward and
vindicate nv doctrine without the annoyance of
repeated and unsuccessful attempts to BRING my
adversary to the point and keep him there
When express to you my disappointment IN
not having found in you such an adversary as
hattered myself was to be honored with, upon
accepting your challenge to discussion, would
not have you or our readers lmaglnne that there
is any regret mingled with this feeling, at the
question itself having been brought into such
prominent notice. On the contrary, | rejoice
much at the deep interest thathas been excited in
relation to it, and at the prospect there is OF its
now obtaining a thorough investigation by some
means or other 1t can still be fully and fairly
examined without formal dsputation, land am
confident the result will be that much ignorance
and prejudice in regard to the opinions held by
Churchmen will be thereby removed.
To be sure, public discussion, conducted in
an honorable and dignfied manner, with mu-
tual avoidance of unc0urteous and unklnd en-
pressions, and appeals to mere popular prejudice,
would have produced no unpleasant excitement
and would have added no little interest to the
whole investigation. AS it is, however, (let the
blame rest where it mayli it has been clearly
proved that we had better each proceed after his
own method, to establish our respective doctrines,
and then leave the public to Judge Of lhe COM
parative weight of our arguments.
/ was very unwilling to commence this discus
sion, as is well known, and cannot say that
regret being relieved from the necessity of follow
ing it up with an adversary, in debating with
whom had hegun to feel that neither the cause
of truth nor that of charity could be much adj
vanced but should be far more unwilling 10
leave the question in It's present unsatisfactory
position. And therefore | shall not consent to
do so.
You indeed have deserted the arena but as
trust that should not have cxulted over pros
trate foe, had it been my fortune to vanquish you
in fair-fought field, feel no disposition to tri-
umph in your precipitate retreat, and, therefore
shall say no more, but proceed as l best can with
out you.
With my parting salutation to you as you go,
hewever, suffer me to unite word of friendly
caution. You have tried your powers in contro-
versy, and are now about to change this mode of
discussion for one which, / doubt not, will occa-
sion you less perpleXity and discomfort. trust
that the altered character of your communications
to the public will enable you in your preparations
to reflect more seriously than l fear you have
heretofore done, In the excitement of debate, upon
the sacredness of the question under consideration
When one has present adversary to contend
with, it is not perhaps in human nature always to
distinguish between zeal for the truth and amb-
tion for conquest, and therefore it has often hap
pened, unfortunately for the reputation Of our
common Christianity, that religious controversy
has been marked by levity of manner, and d
contumelous use OF language, which have been
IN reality AIMED not SO much at the subject in dis
pute as at the person of the disputant Now,
however that you have withdrawn yourself from
the influence of this temptation, trust that the
Church of which am an humble member and
the doctrine which, as believe, sustains her dis
tinctive character, will be regarded by you as in
vested with some degree of sacredness, and there
fore that you will not allow yourself TO assai!
them any more with opp,obrious eplthets or ex-
pressions of ridicule.
Remember that your own Church and the doc
trlnes which command your firm belief are eN-