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Excerpt from Discussion of the Doctrine of the State of the Dead, and Punishment of the Wicked: On the Evenings of December 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, A. D., 1859 Mr. Presitbnt, Ladies and Gentlemen Q I am extremely happy, in the. Good providence. Of God, to be present 6 with you on this occasion. It is not the first time that I have ippeared, before you in the capacity of a disputant, to defend, in my feeble way, what under-find to be the truth relative to the future destiny of man. Five years ago this winter, as malty of you know, I met in this Hall and upon this platform, Mr. Bywater, of Auburn, in the discussion. Gf q.pr0poa° tion similar to the one now at' issue between myself and Mn, Grunt. It was thought that time, 'by Mr. Bywater's friends, that he was, not the most competent man that might have been selected to defend the positions of his denomination; and hence, his generally acknowledged failure was attribuited more to his own weakness. Than to that of the cause which he advocated. In view of this fact, and that the strength of our respective positions might be thoroughly tested, I ex ressed my willingness torenew the discussion, whenever occasion should 0 er, with any gentleman of ac knowledged ability in the denomination; and I am ha py in being assured that my friend, Mr. Grant, is the man selected; that e enters mto. This discussion with the full endorsement of his denomination, as the acknowl edged chhpion of their cause - the Magnus Apollo of the unconsciousness of the dead, and the eternal destruction of the wicked. It is. With the ter pleasure, therefore, that I enter into this discussion, knowing that have an able 0p nt, one who will not fail to subject 11 pr itions to the severest or cal - the most rigid investigation. Let it nu erstood, however, that I do not enter into this discussion for the sake of victory, but for the sake of truth. That, indeed, should be the only defeat of both speakers and hearers; and I am fully satided, that if we engage in