one who felt disposed to engage him in his columns, he came out in a style a little more ardent, as follows:-"We also would say to all our opposers that we are open to conviction, and that the columns of this paper will be gladly granted to their service, should they wish to refute the doctrine of its conductor. If our doctrine is as absurd and as unscriptural as they insinuate, it is their duty to show it. We then say again to our opposers if there is light in you let it shine. Remember that you must answer to your God for your criminality by permitting what you call our darkness to extinguish your light. Open and fair dealing comports with a good religion— stratagem and intrigue it will spurn out of its presence.Come then, let us reason together." (Vol. 1. p 56.) On reading this warm and nervous challenge-very sensibly feeling the force of the appeal to our love of truth, and of his warning, that we must answer" to our "God," &c. not knowing that any one better qualified, would undertake the business-and supposing that the interests of truth required that some one should; the writer determined to accept the proposition. Though it appeared to be a matter of some importance to do away the impression under which his friends seemed to labour, that no one dare engage him, and to silence the clamor which had been raised through the country upon the subject; yet the principal object of the writer was to present his readers with a few striking specimens of what might be said in opposition to his system; and to guard the minds of the more serious and candid against his plausible sophistry. Believing that occasionally throwing an obstacle in his way which he could not effectually remove, would cause many to examine the subject more thoroughly-and so to see the truth-upon whom, otherwise, the continual dropping of his pen, would produce an impression favorable to his mistaken theory.

The writer accordingly addressed a note to the editor upon the subject expressive of his design in general. And how cordially he was received will appear from the following introduction which the editor gave him to his readers: "We welcome Observer into the columns of the Examiner, and promise him a candid hearing and all due attention. His design in coming forward is laudable, & we hope if our bulwarks' are vulnerable, he will bring

forward engines' powerful enough to demolish' them. (Vol. I. p. 102.)

The plan was embraced in five short numbers (the first part of this work) which the editor published promptly, sending out his replies' at the same time.

A rejoinder was immediately commenced (the second part of this work) and the articles were promptly supplied; & the editor proceeded in their publication, (though often with much delay) till he had finished the 5th number when he came to a pause. And what was altogether unaccountable was, that he ceased to publish without assigning any reason, or giving any explanation! So that the public was left in total ignorance with regard to the cause why the controversy was so abruptly broken off. Indeed some of the editors friends were very ready to insinuate that "Observer had become weary of the controversy and had abandoned it."-Under these circumstances the subject was permitted to rest, for more than three months, when the writer addressed a letter to the gentleman upon the subject. In this the grounds of complaint were stated, and the editor was requested to enter into some specific arrangements for the future. And in order to bring the matter before the public, and to obtain his views, he was requested to publish the communication in his next paper--but he did not see proper to comply with the request. After a delay of several weeks however, he condescended barely to give notice that he had two of Observer's rejoinders on hand" which on account of "their uncommon length" he had been obliged to defer publishing "to give room for other matter, which on account of promises, was entitled to a preference." (Vol. 2. p. 181.) Now as to the length" of these articles, it will be but justice to observe, that the gentleman had not given the least intimation that the writer had transgressed due bounds in this respect--Indeed he did not even give notice that he had received any such papers, until he had been plainly addressed upon the subject. It is true that the numbers referred to, were somewhat longer than those which had been previously published, the subjects requiring that they should be. But the editor should have recollected the prolixity of his replies. In replying to the first part of this work, he occupied more than twice the number of pages which that occupied. The rejoinder, as

near as can now be ascertained. would not, but a mere trifle, if any, have exceeded his replies in length. It will now appear with what propriety he complains of the "uncommon length" of these numbers. It seems that he, in order to succeed to his mind, is under the necessity of requiring his antagonist to observe great brevity while he is excessively diffuse!

As to his having "matter" on hand which “On account of promise, was entitled to a preference," it should be considered that, it was more than a year previous that he had positively promised the writer a candid hearing & all due attention." If then he had matter on hand which was entitled to a preference, on account of promise," it must have been promised more than that length of time -but if this was the case it is marvelous indeed how he came to suffer so much matter, of a more recent date, to supercede that which had been so long promised: for certainly that which he published of this kind, within this time, fills no small proportion of his work! It must then be for some reason paramount to a positive" promise" that he occupied his columns with this kind of matter!

But he still gave some reason to expect that he would resume the controversy at some future period. For at the close of his notice he says" While the memoir of Elder Rich's life is continued, we shall still be obliged to omit these rejoinders." From this it would naturally be inferred that when this "memoir" should be finished he would resume the publication of" these rejoinders."— But, on finishing the "memoir," he announced to his patrons that Peculiar circumstances obliged" him" to suspend the publication of the Examiner for a season." This information of course put an end to all expectations of his publishing the rejoinder any farther.

The reader now has the history of this affair before him. It has not been drawn up under the influence of the least unfriendly feeling towards the Editor. It appeared necessary, so far, to make a developement of these facts and circumstances, & the reader is now left to make his own conclusions. The editor courted a controversy in his columns-he endeavored to provoke it, by sending out one challenge upon the back of another-he was met on his own terms-he gave the most unqualified assurances of "a candid hearing and all due attention." The reader

has seen what" attention" he has paid his antagonist.Whether the course he has taken is such as might have been expected from the high ground he assumed at his commencement-whether indeed he has fulfilled his engagements to the public generally, and to his opponent in particular, is now left for the candid and impartial to judge. The writer freely confesses that he thought he had reason to expect a very different course. He has indeed observed that it is very common among this class of editors to profess to publish the arguments on both sides--to send out their banters from time to time; and if no one notice them to conclude that the opposite party deprecates investigation, and from their silence to endeavor to reap all the advantages of a glorious victory. But when put to the test they discover a total unwillingness to meet their opponents upon fair grounds. They profess great liberalitytheir columns are open to both sides--but if they do in fact upon any considerations, admit an opponent, they subject him to disadvantages under which they are aware it would be inconsistent for him to maintain a contest.

These facts have long since occasioned the writer of these pages, to consider all their proposals of this kind, as an empty show. He did hope that it might turn out otherwise in the case of the Examiner, but has to confess his disappointment.

When this controversy was commenced the writer had not the most distant thought of its ever assuming a my other shape, or going any farther than the pages of the Examiner. But just as the affair was assuming a serious aspect-as he was about to enter upon the defence of the main arguments in favor of eternal punishment; his mannscripts were suppressed-he was no longer permitted to speak through that organ. If he had succeeded entirely in that part of the rejoinder which was published, as it embraced but a small part of his design, and the most important part of it being still behind, his object was not accomplished.-And to leave the matter here, he considered, would not be justice. either to himself or to the cause which he had undertaken to support. Being brought to the alternative of remaining in silence, under such circumstances, or publishing in some other form, he chose the latter. And as a part of what he had written, alone, would appear in a very disjointed state, not to say that it

would be altogether unintelligible; he came to the conclusion to revise the whole and put it into a pamphlet.

The writer is aware that it will be the opinion of some, that as every thing bad been done upon this subject, which is necessary or possible to be done, there is no public call for a work of this kind. Upon this ground he had much hesitancy himself with regard to it--but upon reflecting that the old arguments coming through new hands, assuming a new dress, and sometimes being considerably varied, seem to have all the force with many readers, that they would have, were they entirely original--that the most hackneyed arguments are supposed new, and those which have been answered a thousand times are considered unanswerable, unless they are met as often as they are resumed. These things caused him to determine upon his present course.

6

It appears to the writer that too much silence has been observed on this point, & some others. While we are indulging in apathy, the assertors of heteradox opinions, are making use of the greatest efforts, & are awake to the improvement of every advantage. Their periodicals are now flying in every direction through the United States. In these they rudely assail the fundamental doctrines of the Christian System. They challenge us to meet them in argument, and defend our system, if it is capable of defence If there is light in" us, to let it shine." &c. And they do not hesitate to construe our silence into a fear of coming to the light--a conviction that our theory will not bear investigation! Now foreign from the truth as this representation may be, it produces its impression-it often, very often, has its desired effect! The passion for novelty is so general, and so strong, and many are so precipitate and incautious in forming their views, that there is no theory so inconsistent but it obtains votaries-and no sophistry so glaring but that, by some, it is considered as sound reasoning. Our opponents may be destitute of argument, but they supply the deficiency with assurance and zeal. We may treat them with neglectmay consider their arguments not worthy of a moments attention, that they refute themselves, &c. &c., but they have the adroitness to turn this into a mere pretext, to avoid an investigation, which we are aware would end in defeat. By these means many unwary souls are beguiled