’I have fought hard, and have been beaten; I could wish I had been able to fight better, but I did my best, and consequently have no qualms of conscience on the subject.’  Does that mean that we had no qualms of conscience about ‘submitting to the decision that had been reached?’ No.  It means that I was not responsible for the evils of that decision.

“It will, I think, serve the cause of truth, Mr. Editor, if you will be so kind as to publish this card in your next issue.  If I was so unfortunate in the use of language as not to express sentiments similar to the above, I desire now to express them.

“Allow me also to ask whether you will open the columns of your paper for a full statement of the views of the Amoy Mission on the subject of the ecclesiastical relations of the churches under their care?  I find that there is still altogether a mistaken impression among our churches on this subject.  Our people who sustain the Mission have a right to know the condition of that Mission.  From the report in the last Intelligencer, they will get no light on that subject, but will get the impression that some great mistake has been committed by the Missionaries at Amoy. Allowing this to be the case, the Missionaries have a right to be heard before the churches.  Let the churches understand the matter, and decide concerning the mistake.  The Missionaries have been desirous for years to get their views made public, but have not yet succeeded.

“Very truly, yours, &c,
“J.V.N.  TALMAGE.” 
June 19, 1863.

Instead of finding my note inserted in the next number of the Intelligencer I found the following: 

     “REV.  MR. TALMAGE’S LETTER.

“We have received from the Rev. J.V.N.  Talmage, a communication respecting our report of his remarks at the close of the session of the General Synod, accompanied with a request that he be permitted to appeal through these columns to the Churches in support of his position.  The communication is long, and perhaps we can give the substance of it briefly.

     “1st.  He wishes to correct the statement of Rev. Dr. Porter.  And
     this he shall do in his own words, viz.: 

“’I felt that his speech was altogether unfortunate, for it seemed almost to demand of me the restatement of my views.  But I felt, also, that it would be improper then to occupy the time of Synod with any further discussion, and contented myself with merely taking exception to Dr. Porter’s statements, saying that I could not use the language he had just used.  I also stated that, although the Synod had not arrived at the best decision, yet perhaps it was the best, under all the circumstances.’

     “So far Mr. Talmage, in disclaiming agreement with the statement
     made by Dr. Porter.

“We can, on this point, only express regret that there should have been either seeming or real difference.  But as Brother Talmage confesses that our report correctly represents him as having said, that

     “’Although the Synod had not arrived at the best decision, yet
     perhaps it was the best, under all the circumstances,’