How necessary it was that some one should “kindle the patriotism of the people into a glowing flame” is further evident from the fact that the California Legislature of 1861 numbered as its members 57 Douglas Democrats, 33 Southern Democrats, and but 24 Republicans.  What this alignment signified may be judged from the following incident.  Edmund Randolph, (a former Virginian, and a man of fiery eloquence) on July 11, 1861, delivered unrebuked in the State Democratic Convention at Sacramento, this diatribe against Abraham Lincoln:  “For God’s sake speed the ball, may the lead go quick to his heart — and may our country be free from this despot usurper, that now claims to the name of President of the United States.”

A few days earlier, July 4, 1861, a Confederate flag waved undisturbed in Los Angeles, as well as in other nearby towns, the Union men in that section being largely in the minority.  For a considerable time in the United States Marshal’s office in San Francisco, a Confederate flag waved from a miniature man-of-war named “Jeff Davis.”

In Merced County, Union men were in a sorry minority!  A favorite campaign song in that region was entitled, “We’ll Drive the Bloody Tyrant Lincoln From Our Dear Native Soil.”  A little later, the Equal Rights Expositer of Visalia characterized President Lincoln as “a narrow minded bigot, an unprincipled demagogue, and a drivelling, idiotic, imbecile creature.”

Unpleasant testimony of this sort, demonstrating the presence and power of a bitter spirit of disloyalty, running all through the State, but most in evidence in certain localities peopled from the South, might be given at great length.  But enough.  We have no wish to reproduce the evil passions of an evil time further than to make it absolutely clear that a real danger of disunion existed, and that friend and foe alike recognized that, under God, the undaunted leader of Union sentiment in California was none other than Starr King.

A prominent San Francisco paper, indulging in the partizan speech of the period, calling all friends of the Administration at Washington, “Abolitionists,” gave ungracious testimony to King’s standing and influence as follows: 

“The abolitionists are bent on carrying out their plans, and will not hesitate to commit any act of despotism.  If the constitution stands in their way, they will, to use the words of their champion in this state, Rev. T. Starr King, drive through the constitution.”

“Their champion in this state.”  The opprobrium rested upon him then; let the honor be his now.  This in simple justice to the truth of history.

It is infinitely to be regretted that what men called “the irresistible charm of his eloquence” cannot by any manner of speech be here portrayed.  If excuse is necessary let these words from King’s lecture on “Webster” plead for us: