The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1865-07-26
[For the Pioneer.l
Rev. H. r. Nye.

S~SNs &@s 49, @N
DEAR SIa,-After your very protracted delay,
I received yours through the Pioneer; in which
you have attempted to excuse yourself for your
strange course in respect to our discussion.
Having declared your purpose repeatedly,
since your abandonment of the discussion, to
resume it as soon as circumstances would per-
nit. have waited till the present, in hope
that you would finally deem it "unDiss" to
resume it.
Determined, however, to make a display Of
valor. you challenge me to an oral discussion,
In Upper Sandusky; and, lest there should be
a slight suspicion remaining, you do not except
the Conference to which belong. II certainly
indicates some pluck to be willing to discuss
with any member of the Central Ohio Confer
ence and all have to say in reply is, that
there is room for doubt whether you would
stand up to your proposition in this respect, as
you have SO signally backed down in our en-.
gagement, no less positive, even after the job
had been commenced.
The excuse you make is by no means salts
factory, as you have spent time enough even
in Upper saadusky, since your last letter, to
have completed the discussion; and again, you
are now settled in Springfield. as l learn with
a good salary, SO that you could, if you would,
complete it.
As for your challenge, may remark:
l. 1t is made with the knowledge upon
your part, that had declined an oral debate
| of these questions until the written one was
concluded.
2. 1t is made at time when can not CON
sistently enter into an arrangement Of that
kind, without infringing upon the rights of my
successor. 1t being highly probable that my
relation to this charge will close with the Con
ference year, there would not be sufficient time
to make the arrangements aud hold the discus
sion before the session of our Conference.
3. 1t would be consummate folly to abandon
written debate, nearly half completed, and
substitute an oral one, in which there could
not be as thorough an investigation of the
subject.
4. 1t comes with i'll grace from one who has
made so many propositions of transferrence
first to a prospective Magazine, then to the
Covenant and now | am driven to the alterna.
tive of discussing orally or not discussing al
all. was not aware that had enga ged with
an opponent so exceedingly precarious ani
whimsical, aud am sorry that was not adver
tised sooner Of the real character of my re
spondent.
In conclusion, I may say think my conduct
has fully evnced my readiness to be with 20,
in thorough investigation of the issues between
us; and of my ability let Others judge. But
as have not brought out the strength of my
arguments and objections to your system, and
especially as have not had an opportunity to
submit my testimony in support of the last prop
ositIon in debate, hereby advertise you of my
purpose to publish in pamphlet form the dis
cussion so far as it has gone; the complement
of my arguments and objections; and the body
of my arguments on the last propositions, to,
getber with an explanation of the abandonment
of the discussion, SO that the public may judge
between us.
Very respectfully yours.
L. C. WEBSTER.