“It is a strange and sad necessity which impels American citizens to band themselves together to sustain the constitution and the Union; but the Government under which we live is threatened with destruction. Washington enjoined upon us that ‘the unity of the Government which constitutes us one people is a main pillar in the edifice of our real independence; the support of our tranquility at home, our peace abroad— of our safety, of our prosperity, of that very liberty which we so highly prize.’ He charges that we should ‘properly estimate the immense value of our national Union to our collective and individual happiness; that we should cherish a cordial, habitual and immovable attachment to it; accustoming ourselves to think and speak of it as the palladium of our political safety and prosperity; watching for its preservation with jealous anxiety; discountenancing whatever may suggest even a suspicion that it can in any event be abandoned.’ “He tells us again that ‘to the efficiency and permanency of the Union, a Government for the whole is indispensable. No alliances, however strict between the parts, is an adequate substitute.’ “It is to sustain this Government we are banded together, and for this purpose you are now required to take a solemn obligation. “Place your left hand on the National Flag and raise your right hand toward Heaven; repeating after me: “We and each of us do solemnly swear in the presence of God and these witnesses to support, protect and defend the constitution and Government of the United States and of the State of Kansas against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and to maintain and defend the Government of the United States and the flag thereof, and aid in maintaining the laws of the United States in this State and to defend the State of Kansas against invasion from any State or States and from any other rebellion, invasion, insurrection to the best of our ability without any mental reservation or evasion—So help us God. “The members will respond. “To this we pledge ourselves. “We do severally solemnly swear and affirm that we will protect, aid and defend each member of all Union clubs, and will never make known in any way or manner, to any person or persons, not members of Union clubs, any of the signs, passwords, proceedings, purposes, debates or plans of this or any other club under this organization, except when engaged in admitting new members into this organization. “The president will then deliver the following address to the candidates: