You want a debate? I can put an argument why Nagato would win. Now we all know that edo Madara isn't losing to edo Hashirama.
Opinionated that Edo Madara would beat Edo Hashirama. I personally believe Hashirama has a slight chance in winning if he were to have a sealing juts, but clearly I cannot elaborate who would conlcude the fight as the victor, as neither of them have sealing jutsu's.
However, if you want a debate about Nagato being weaker/stronger then Hashirama, I don't mind.
Hashirama can destroy him with shinsusenju, which utilises sage mode. Sage mode will not allow preta path to absorb any of his abilities during its use, as absorbing a lot of Senjutsu will turn Nagato to
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.
Preta path is useless in this fight, as Sage mode can be applied to every mokuton jutsu to amplify it in addition to make it a risk of turning into stone for the Preta path.
Nagato has not proved his chakra to be very substantial, or even comparable with Hashirama, whereas Hashirama has illustrated
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to be enough to provide chakra for the
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shinobi alliance, in addition to evidently proving to be able to continuously fight for
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straight against a notable opponent such as Madara.
Hashirama's Mukoton isn't going to be affected by any variable in this fight, as Preta path won't work when Senjutsu is being used due to the risk it carries, and Katon won't be a variable as he hasn't shown any Katon Jutsu. Mastering an element isn't the same as mastering a technique, and as this is a debate Nagato needs Katon feats in order to use it, which he has not shown. By this speculation Hashirama would counter the Katon with his Suiton (which he hasn't shown any feats for) since he has this element, and combines it with Doton to form his Mukoton.
The only thing at this point that Nagato would have to affect Hashirama would be his OP moves, which are Chibaku tensei and the Gedo Mazo. These aren't really a problem for Hashirama, as Hashirama can easily lock down the Gedo Mazo with Senpō: Myōjinmon, which was capable of locking the
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. Juubi=Gedo with all the Taile beats, hence the power difference. If Chibaku Tensei is used, than Hashirama can simply use Shinsusenju, which most definitely has the power necessary to break away from the Chibaku Tensei. 8 Tailed Naruto
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from Chibaku tensei with strength alone. Notice how 8 Tailed Naruto needed to use his entire body to escape the Chibaku Tensei, and this is 50% Kurama without unleashing his 9th tail. Now, imaging the 100% Kurama with his 9th tail, using all his body and still losing a fight of strength against the Shinsusenju's hand alone. This concludes that Shinsusenju is barely affected by Chibaku Tensei, due to its size and brute strength.
I really don't understand how you can say Nagato wins.