I wish to have the official copy of the points of debate, that I may adhere strictly to them.

      [Mr. Campbell hands the document to Mr. Owen.]

      My friends, I deem it the first duty of those who are contending only for the truth, to concede everything they possibly can to an opponent. I therefore most readily concede to Mr. Campbell that the Christian religion was the foundation of the social system. When I was very young, I was very religious. At seven, eight, nine, and up to ten years of age, I only read what are called good books. But at ten years of [177] age I became convinced, from these books, that there was error somewhere. I discovered so much contradiction between different religions, and between the various sects of the same religion, that I became convinced there was some great error pervading the whole subject. I was very desirous to distinguish truth from error, and studied, with great industry, for the three following years, that is, until I was thirteen years old, with a determination, forced upon me by my early impressions, to find, if possible, a religion that was true. But the more I read and reflected, the more errors and mistakes I discovered in religion, and, therefore, the more I differed from Christianity and all other religions; until, at length, I was compelled, sorely against my will, to believe Christianity and all religions to be founded in error. There was no relation, no congruity between them and facts--between what they taught, and what I knew and felt to be true.

      Therefore, Mr. Campbell's surmise that the Christian religion was the foundation of this system is perfectly correct; but it was not founded in the truth of the Christian religion.

      Finding that no religion was based upon facts, but that all of them were in opposition to facts, and could not therefore be true, I began to reflect upon what must be the condition of mankind, trained from infancy to believe in these errors, and to make them the rule of their conduct. I argued thus with myself: As I am very certain that religion is not true, therefore something else must be true, and it is highly important to discover what it is. With a view to this discovery, I read five hours per day for twenty-five years, until I believe I collected all the facts which are of value on these subjects, in the English language, during a great part of the latter period, exclusively under the influence of an earnest, honest, ardent desire to discover and elicit the truth. I knew that there were certain facts and deductions from them, upon which all parties were agreed. I thought it, therefore, highly probable that those points on which all parties had agreed were true; and these I recollected for the sake of reference and comparison. But when I came to an idea that was not in unison or accordance with them, I felt myself, as a lover of truth, bound to examine it carefully, because I very early discovered that truth was always consistent with itself. If, therefore, I found, by close investigation and extensive comparison, that the new idea to be examined was in strict consistency and congruity with the other truths previously received into my mind, it was added to the original store. And thus I went on with great diligence and perseverance, until I had collected a great stock of ideas, all in unison with each other. And it is from this stock of ideas, and [178] from no other source, that I have been enabled to discover the ignorance in which we and our ancestors have been trained. I did not go into Scotland until seventeen years after my mind had passed through the greater part of this process. I was a thorough skeptic for seventeen years before my removal to Scotland. In regard to Mr. Dale, there never was, perhaps, a man of kinder or more benevolent feelings. After I was his son-in-law we became very intimately acquainted with each other's real views and feelings. Our objects were precisely the same; but, by the difference of our organization and circumstances, we were compelled to take different roads to obtain them. I admired his character and conduct, and I believe he had a great regard and affection for me; for, in his last illness, he was desirous to receive his medicine and chief attendance from me, although he well knew how much I differed from him on the subject of religion, and although he had a number of religious friends about him. But this is a digression produced by Mr. Campbell's observations.

      My organization, no doubt, differs in some degree from others; and certainly the circumstances which have acted upon that organization have been most peculiar. I do not know to what extent my organization differs from others; but the circumstances in which I have been placed, acting upon this organization, have been the causes which have produced all the occurrences and proceedings of my life, and my character and conduct, such as it has always been, before the world.

      But to come to the point. I have stated that there are twelve fundamental laws of nature not derived from any authority whatever, but from facts which I defy all the world to disprove. Mr. Campbell admits that these facts are true, but contends that they do not contravene or oppose the faith and doctrine of Christianity. Well, if my friend can convince me that there is no contradiction or discrepancy between these twelve laws and Christianity, I shall then become a Christian indeed. But to me, with such ability as I possess--with all the power of attention and discrimination which I can exercise on the subject, no two things ever did appear more strongly contrasted and opposed to each other than these twelve laws and Christianity--to me they appear to be perfect antipodes to each other. If my friend, Mr. Campbell, can reconcile them, it is more than I can do. I shall listen with patience and great interest to the proofs which he may adduce on this point; because if he can prove that there exists no discrepancy between the two systems, he necessarily will make me a Christian. My present conviction is, that these twelve laws of human nature differ, toto caelo, from Christianity; that these twelve laws demonstrate, [179] in the clearest manner, that all the religions of the world are founded in the ignorance of man with regard to himself; that all the religions of the world are therefore, Mr. Campbell [turning round to him], directly opposed to the never-changing laws of our nature; that there is not the remotest connection or affinity between these twelve laws and any religion existing on the face of the globe; that, on the contrary, all religions are in direct opposition to them; that these laws, when rightly understood, and fully and fairly carried into practice, will produce "peace on earth and good-will to man;" will create a new state of society, in which every individual composing it shall be simple and virtuous in his habits, highly intelligent, possessing the best dispositions, and enjoying the highest degree of human felicity.

      I do say farther, that these religions are now the only obstacles which oppose themselves to the formation of a society over the earth of virtue, intelligence, and charity in its most extensive sense, and of sincerity and kindness among the whole human family. These are my general deductions from the premises before us. Were I to go into all the detail, I fear I should occupy too much of your time; for I have as much of these details to bring forward as would occupy your time for a fortnight, were I alone to speak. These details all go to show, step by step, throughout their whole progress, how injurious all your religions are to yourselves--that they cause you and your children to continue, like your ancestors, in total ignorance of yourselves, and that they involve you in every kind of disunion, which generates the worst feelings and passions, and creates all those little undercurrents of misery with which we are all but too familiar.

      But we shall now bring this discussion within a narrow compass. I have stated these twelve laws as succinctly and distinctly as words for that purpose occur to me. Now, if Mr. Campbell will only show me that one, or all, or any, or either of these laws are contrary to fact, or in unison with Christianity--from that time forth he makes me a Christian!

      Now, it will be Mr. Campbell's duty to prove either that these twelve laws of human nature are not derived from facts, and in unison therewith, or he must prove that these laws and Christianity are one and indivisible. I take it for granted that Mr. Campbell gives up all other religions except the Christian. But were I to go to any other country with my challenge, I could find no champion willing to defend any but his own; therefore, I can only be met formidably by the religion of the region or district where they happen to be. I should be told in one district, "We will not contend with you for the truth of the [180] religion taught by Confucius, by Moses, or by Mahomet; but we will contend with you to the death for the divine truth of that holy religion which has been delivered to us of this district and to our fathers from time immemorial." The attachment of the inhabitants of the different regions of the earth to their respective religions seems to be but a mere local kind of attachment. When asked why they believe their peculiar religion to be the only true one, they reply, "Because we have been born in this part of the world, and have been taught that we ought so to believe." At present I shall say no more, having placed the matter thus plainly before you. Mr. Campbell has now a fair opportunity to prove that these twelve laws are not based upon facts, or being founded in truth, that they are in unison with Christianity. I do not think it would be unfair to ask Mr. Campbell to proceed forthwith in reply to the mass of matter which has been presented; that I ought to put my document into his hands and allow him ample time to digest and refute it. Mr. Campbell has now either to lose his cause altogether, or to make me a Christian.

      In reply to a dictum from the Chair, Mr. Owen said--

      I willingly adopt the suggestion from the Chair, and shall proceed to-morrow to demonstrate the opposition between Christianity and these facts, although Mr. Campbell ought, as he engaged, to show their accordance with each other.

[COD 177-181]