Originally published in Hood's Magazine (Henry Hurst) vol.6 #1 (Jul 1846).
An intense commotion has been excited among the Scottish community, by the publicity given to the fact that the Deputation from the Free Church, which went over to America to promote the cause of the voluntaries and their secession, has not scrupled to solicit and receive contributions in aid of its funds from the Slave-holders of America. Virtuous men of plain common sense insist that the reception of offerings from such a source was, in the first instance, thoughtless and barely pardonable—but, with a vehemence which will never abate, till the polluted tribute be disgorged, they insist, that the retention of it, after expostulation, and opportunity to weigh well the principles and consequences involved in such a procedure, is an unmitigated abomination. They are right—the 30 pieces of Judas Iscariot were not more polluted in their origin than the 3,000l. of the slave-holders—and buyers—and sellers—and scourgers—and executioners—of America. Just let Drs. Candlish and Cunningham read the account of the appalling murder, done upon the slave Pauline, for the crime of ill-treating—only ill-treating—her mistress!—or, of the ripping open (further South) of the victims in the Brazilian mines, to ascertain if they had swallowed any of the diamonds, and then let them, if they can, persist in their detestable casuistry and special pleadings, with which they are fain to defend the retention of the 3,000 pieces of money, coined from the blood and groans of the miserable Slave—their brother and fellow man!