re compelled to deny that slaveholders were responsible for the
sin; and if driven from both these positions, they must deny that it
is a sin in such a sense, and that slaveholders are sinners in such
a sense, as to make it wrong, in the circumstances in which they were
placed, to recognize them as Christians. Dr. Cunningham was the most
powerful debater on the slavery side of the question; Mr. Thompson was
the ablest on the anti-slavery side. A scene occurred between these two
men, a parallel to which I think I never witnessed before, and I know
I never have since. The scene was caused by a single exclamation on the
part of Mr. Thompson.

The general assembly of the Free Church was in progress at{297} Cannon
Mills, Edinburgh. The building would hold about twenty-five hundred
persons; and on this occasion it was densely packed, notice having been
given that Doctors Cunningham and Candlish would speak, that day, in
defense of the relations of the Free Church of Scotland to slavery
in America. Messrs. Thompson, Buffum, myself, and a few anti-slavery
friends, attended, but sat at such a distance, and in such a position,
that, perhaps we were not observed from the platform. The excitement was
intense, having been greatly increased by a series of meetings held by
Messrs. Thompson, Wright, Buffum, and myself, in the most splendid
hall in that most beautiful city, just previous to the meetings of the
general assembly. "SEND BACK THE MONEY!" stared at us from every street
corner; "SEND BACK THE MONEY!" in large capitals, adorned the broad
flags of the pavement; "SEND BACK THE MONEY!" was the chorus of the
popular street songs; "SEND BACK THE MONEY!" was the heading of leading
editorials in the daily newspapers. This day, at Cannon Mills, the great
doctors of the church were to give an answer to this loud and stern
demand. Men of all parties and all sects were most eager to hear.
Something great was expected. The occasion was great, the men great, and
great speeches were expected from them.

In addition to the outside pressure upon Doctors Cunningham and
Candlish, there was wavering in their own ranks. The conscience of the
church itself was not at ease. A dissatisfaction with the position of
the church touching slavery, was sensibly manifest among the members,
and something must be done to counteract this untoward influence. The
great Dr. Chalmers was in feeble health, at the time. His most potent
eloquence could not now be su