The Brigham Young Center

Salt Lake City. U.T.
10 August 1870.

Rev. Dr. J.P. Newman.

Sir:

I am informed by Mess. Carrington and Young that at their meeting last evening, with Drs Sunderland and Taggart they were unable to come to a decision with regard to the wording of the subject of debate.

Bearing in mind the following facts 1stly, That you are the challenging party. 2ndly, That in a sermon delivered by you in the city of Washington, before President Grant and his Cabinet, Members of Congress and many other prominent gentlemen, you assumed "to prove that God's law, condemns the union in marriage of more than two persons," it certainly seems stranger that your representatives should persistently refuse to have any other question discussed than the one "Does the Bible sanction Polygamy." It appears to the representatives of Mr Pratt, that if Dr Newman could undertake to prove in Washington that "God's law condemns the union in marriage of more than two persons," it certainly seems strange that your representatives should persistently refuse to have any other question discussed than the one "Does the Bible sanction Polygamy." It appears to the representatives of Mr Pratt, that if Dr Newman could undertake to prove in Washington that "God's law condemns the union in marriage of more than two persons," he ought not to refuse to make the same affirmation in Salt Lake City. Mr Pratt I discover entertains the same opinion, but rather than permit the discussion to fall, he will not press for your original proposition, but accept the question as you now state it "Does the Bible sanction Polygamy?"

I sincerely trust that none of the gentlemen forming the committee will encumber the discussion with unnecessary regulations, which will be irksome to both parties and unproductive of good, and that no obstacles will be thrown in the way of having a free and fair discussion.

Respectfully.
Brigham Young