“‘The oath which you have now taken of your own free will and accord cannot rest lightly upon your conscience, neither can it be violated without leaving the stain of perjury upon your soul. Our country is now in “disorder” and “confusion;” the fires of commotion and contest are now raging in our midst, war has come to us but we cannot, we must not, we dare not omit to do that which in our judgment the safety of the Union requires, not regardless of consequences, we must yet meet consequences; seeing the hazard that surrounds the discharge of public duty, it must yet be discharged. Let us then, cheerfully shun no responsibility justly devolving upon us here or elsewhere in attempting to maintain the Union. Let us cheerfully partake its fortune and its fate. Let us be ready to perform our appropriate part, whenever and wherever the occasion may call us, and to take our chances among those upon whom the blows may fall first and fall thickest. “‘Above all remember the words of our own immortal Clay: “If Kentucky tomorrow unfurls the banner of resistance, I never will fight under that banner. I owe a paramount allegiance to the whole Union. A _subordinate_ one to my own State.” “‘Be faithful, then, to your country, for your interests are indissolubly connected with hers; be faithful to these, your brethren, for your life and theirs may be involved in this contest; be faithful to posterity for the blessings you have enjoyed in this Government are but held in trust for thee.’ “Response by all the members—We Will! “The president will then present the constitution and oath to the candidates for their signature.”