"I pledged California to a Northern Republic and to a flag that should have no treacherous threads of cotton in its warp, and the audience came down in thunder"

Thomas Starr King was an American Unitarian minister and prominent figure in California during the American Civil War. This quote is from a speech he gave in 1861, in which he declared his commitment to the Union and his opposition to slavery. He pledged California to a Northern Republic, implying that he was committed to the Union and to the cause of abolishing slavery. He also stated his commitment to a flag that would not include any "treacherous threads of cotton in its warp," indicating that the flag would not include any cotton produced by slave labor. His words were met thunderous applause from the audience, revealing their support for his position versus slavery and for the Union. King's speech was a powerful statement of his dedication to the cause of freedom and equality, and it was consulted with fantastic interest from the audience.