The clergy, a source of danger to the American Republic...

Front matter

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THE CLERGY

Index

I.— AMERICA'S FOES.

PAGE.

Civil Liberty In Danger, 9

America's Worst Enemies, 10

Powerful Influence of the Clergy, 11

Protestant Jealousy of the Catholics, 13

War Against Infidels Threatened, 17

The Constitution as a Religious Creed, _. 20

First Amendment was on Religion, 24

Thomas Jefferson's Opinion of the Clergy, 27

II.— THE GREAT QUESTION.

Christian Logic, 30

Discussion on the Question,. . .- 32

Making Nations and Steam Engines, 33

Chistian France and Christian Prussia, 34

The Nation as a Person, 35

God Angry if not Recognized, 41

Religion to be Ignored for the Benefit of All, 43

Powers of Government from God or the People, 45

III.— POLITICS AND RELIGION.

Corruption of Politics, 47

Religion More Corrupting than Politics, 48

Family Government Despotic, 52

Government is not a Church, 54

Open Avowal of Christ Demanded, 55

God and Nations, 5()

Divorce of Politics and Religion God-Dishonoring, 5(>

Variant Views on the Sabbath Question, 63

IV.— GOVERNMENT : HUMAN OR DIVINE.

Logic of Christianity in Favor of Constitutional Recognition of God, 65

Origin of Civil Government, 67

Object of Civil Government, 68

Historical View, C()

Instability of the Will of the People,. - 71

God's Government and Man's Government, 72

Intolerance and Persecution, 74

True Position of Government, 79

6 INDEX.

v.— AN "AMBASSADOR OF GOD."

PAGE.

A Christian Goliath, 8i

Blackstone on Reason, 83

Christianity Part of the Law of the Land, 83

Bible Has Not Burnt Heretics, 84

Satan Turned Democrat, 86

United States Constitution Infidelic, 92

Good Men Fear Union of Church and State, 93

No Intention to Coerce Conscience, 95

Fair Type of American Clergy, 98

Catholic Church Has Not Burnt Heretics, _ 100

Christ's Worship Enforced, 100

Christianity Not a Part of the Law of the Land, 102

VI.— OUR COUNTRY OR RELIGION : WHICH ?

Christian Address to the Voting Citizens, 104

Patriotism and Religion, 105

Holy War, 107

America's Prosperity Without Religion, no

Sunday Laws, and Prayers in Congress and the Legislatures Should

Be Abolished, III

Apparent Harmlessness of the Proposed Religious Amendment, 113

Hundreds of Thousands of Christians will Favor God in the Constitution, - 114

Distinguished Citizens Committed to the Movement, 115

Religion Arrayed Against the State, 119

VII.— CLERICAL EMPIRE.

Church Union the Basis of Union of Church and State, 123

Protestants Gravitating Toward Roman Catholicism, 125

Protestant Nuns, 126

" The Imperialist," 133

Religious Alliances, _. 139

VIII.— ORIGIN, EXTENT AND PROGRESS OF THE POLITI- CAL GOD RECOGNITION.

Free Inquiry Dangerous to Christianity, 142

Only Christians Eligible to Congress, 147

Men Who Travel on Sunday Unfit for Official Position, 149

Political Praying, 152

New York Tribune Sounds an Alarm, 153

Priests not all Enemies to Liberty, 160

Rev. H. W. Beecher against the Movement, 161

Rev. Dr. Bellows against it, 162

*' We Must Be on the Watch !" 164

The Clergy's Attack on Free Institutions, 165

Liberty, not Religion, the Demand of the Age, 166

IX.— THE CLERGY AND OUR COMMON SCHOOLS.

Religion the Disturbing Element of Free Schools, 167

Union of Religion with the Free School the Same in Principle as

Union of State and Church, 168

I

INDEX. 7

PAGE.

A Mighty Conflict Inevitable, i68

Daily Religious Instruction Demanded by both Catholics and Protestants, 1 70

Catholic Children Between Two Fires, 174

Those Sixteen Pious Mothers, 175

The Clergy Propose to Convert Infants, 178

Forcing Christian Dogmas into Schools, 179

The Clergy Willing to Sacrifice a Million Lives, and Countless treasure, to Retain the Bible in School, 180

The School War, 183

X.— THE BIBLE, OR THE "GODLESS" CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES?

" Heathenish " Constitution, 188

Bible Laws, 190

Sensitiveness of the Clergy on the Sabbath Question, 193

No Sabbath, No Clergy, 194

The Bible Against Woman, 194

Jesus Christ Against Marriage, 199

The Bible in Favor of Polygamy, . . 200

The Bible and the Temperance Question, 201

The Constitution Promotes the General Welfare, 204

The Constitution Insures Domestic Tranquillity, 205

The Constitution Insures the Blessings of Liberty to Ourselves and

Our Posterity, 206

The Bible against Republics and in Favor of Kingdoms, 209

XL— GOD'S CHARACTER.

For Leading Traits see Entire Chapter, 211

XII.— SHALL WE ELECT JESUS?

Jesus on Oaths, 220

Jesus on Prayer, 220

Good Advice, but not new, 220

Divorce Law of the New Testament, 220

Jeous Taught that to Become Divorced and to Re-Marry is Adultery, 222

" Resist Not Evil " Tested, 223

The Beatitudes Examined, 224

XIII.— THE RICH CHRISTIAN.

Poverty and Heaven, 229

Love of Wealth, 232

Anxious Thought for To-Morrow, 233

Forsaking all Earthly Treasure, 235

Who Are Christ's Followers? 237

No Rich Man Can Ever Enter Heaven, 238

Jesus Christ's Teachings Not the Cause of Civilization, 241

That Camel in the Needle's Eye, t 242

XIV.— THE "SANCTIFIED."

The " Sanctified " in Office, 244

Not as Other Men Are, 246

8 INDEX.

PAGE.

" Highly Respectable " — as usual, 247

The Shepherd and His Sheep, 248

Pious Lying not a " Lost Art," 250

" ?Ioly Petting," 25S

The Church a " City of Refuge," 264

Miserable Sinners, 264

The Pious Doctor, 266

Clerical Lothario, 270

Handsome Young Ladies, 271

Hatch on Preachers, 273

Parson Brownlow on Preachers, 276

The Preacher and Numerous Farmers' Daughters, 279

Clerical Scandals, 28S

Temptations of the Clergy, 291

" Alone and Unmolested," 293

" Deadly Doing," 295

Bad Effects of Sunday Schools, 296

Christianity a Stupendous Failure, 298

XV.— IS THIS A FALSE ALAR^I ?

The Increasing Power of the Christian jNIovement, 301

Testimony by F. E. Abbot, Editor of the Index, 302

The Nation's Existence Threatened, 304

The " Counter Petition," Excitement Inaugurated by Abbot, 306

Earnest Work and Liberal Donations by Christians to secure

Success, 30J

Christians Threaten War, 311

Senator Charles Sumner in Sympathy with Liberals, 313

Four-fifths of the Christians of America in Favor of the Union of

Church and State, 317

XVI.— WHY THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION I> GODLESS.

The Clergy's Power Incompatible with Freedom. 32 1

The Clergy Stifle Free Inquiry, 321

Protestant Persecutors, 322

The Diffusion of Knowledge, and not Religion, the Cause of Civilization, 323

Religion, Liberty's Worst Enemy, 325

Religion Opposed to Progress, 326

Religion Opposed to Free Speech, 326

The Insolent Bishop, 32C

The Clergy Always on the Side of Tyranny, 326

The Founders of the American Republic Divested Religion of all

Power in the State, 329

The Ministers Striving to Retrieve a "Lost Cause," 329

Influence of the Clergy Against Self-Rule, 330

Fear of Religion Manifested by the Framers of the Constitution, 330

Right of the People to Secure a Godless Constitution and Secular

Government, 331

Let Us Keep Our Country F'ree, 331

American Republic

AMERICA S FOES.

'• Our fathers came and planted fields,

And manly Law, and schools and truth ;

They planted Self-Rule, which we'll guard

By word and sword, in age, in 3'outh."

— Francis Licber.

Religious despotism is arrayed against American freedom. Americans are over-confident in the strength of their government. The present feeling.of security among the masses of the people tends to the success of the schemes concocted by the foes of civil and religious liberty. The assurance which passes from mouth to mouth, that there is no danger to the nation from the plotting of a few weak and misguided clergymen, is fraught with evil to our nation. The work of the clergy — America's inveterate foes — is adroitly planned. If their plot succeeds there will be an end to liberty of conscience in the American Union. Justice, domestic tranquillity and the general welfare will be sacrificed to Christian lO THE CLERGY A SOURCE OF DANGER.

despotism. If Christianity ever becomes the established religion of the United States of America, more than forty thousand Christian priests will then fatten at the national crib. They will be " sustained and supported " by a Congress composed of Christians. The clergy are aiming to accomplish all this, as I will show. Liberty's price — eternal vigilance — is not paid. The people say, " Never was our nation stronger than at this moment ; it has passed through a fiery trial, the late rebellion, and become mightier than when it entered it." That is all true, but it was in danger, nevertheless. Before the breaking out of the rebellion the remark was common, " O ! there will be no war. The people of America are too enlightened in this age to shed each other's blood." We all know how vain were those expressions. Many who will read these pages will, no doubt, exclaim in a similar spirit of over-confidence, " Religious warfare is at an end ; there is no danger of Church-and-State union ; it is impossible to incorporate the name of God in the Constitution of the United States."

A still less thoughtful class say, "What if the name of God is put into the Constitution .'' Will it do any harm } "

It can be shown that religious warfare is not at an end ;* that there is great danger of Church-and-State union ; that it is possible to incorporate the name of God in the Constitution of the United States, and, lastly, if the name of God is thus incorporated, civil and religious liberty in America will be, for the time being, overthrown.

Notwithstanding the strength of our nation it is threatened by greater, more insidious foes than ever gnawed at its vitals — the clergy. They are America's worst enemies, worse than slave-holders ever were, more dangerous to civil and religious liberty, and more unprincipled in their attacks

* This was written several months previous to the conflict between the Orangemen and Catholics in New York city, on the 12th of July, 1871. Both Catholics and Protestants have yet to learn that this country does not belong exclusively to either or both ; but they will not be convinced of the fact without the shedding of blood.

AMERICA S FOES. II

Upon it. He has read history to little profit who does not know that Christians, as Christians, cannot be trusted with civil power.

To-day this country is in a similar condition religiously that it was politically at the time of firing upon Fort Sumpter. Then there was little or no apprehension of a war, and most of the means of power, forts, arsenals, etc., were in the hands of those who undertook to destroy the Union. Now the means of power — institutions of learning, including our common schools, the church property exempt from taxation, and millions of money, besides, rapidly accumulating, are in possession of Christians. So completely is this nation controlled by the clergy and their satellites that a protest in almost any school district against the outrageous Bible-reading practice in school is met with ill-concealed derision from, or the pious disgust of, the Christian portion of community. The clergy are the natural enemies of a purely democratic form of government, a form which recognizes no power higher than the will of the people. Self-government and Christianity are incompatible. Christianity wars against the natural, inalienable right of the people to rule themselves. It does not believe in the people. It distrusts them. It claims to be superior to them. A truly democratic or republican government has no God. It is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Christianity means a government of Gods, kings and queens, lords and ladies, against the people. It is theocratic. Human government means freedom. Christian government, in whatever guise it appears, is pure despotism. Christianity is grasping for power to enable it to destroy this Republic, which it considers too American, too human, and seeks to substitute for the government of the people a government of God — a Christian Empire !

For several years there has been a deeply laid plan by Christians to overturn the principle to which our nation owes its existence, namely, " Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." The ideal divine government conceived by the clergy is diametrically opposed to this. They despise and denounce the principle of self-government, asserting that the consent of the people as to whether God shall govern them is rebellion against him. The Jeffersonian idea is that the people are the source of power. This the Christians pronounce anti-Christian and infidelic, and so it is. They imagine they can render no greater service to God than to destroy the principle of self-rule. For this purpose they have a national association of Christians, and several State Christian organizations, all working for the overthroAv of America's free institutions. The Movement is not, as too many suppose, an insignificant one. It is assuming gigantic proportions, and is constantly increasing in popularity among Christian people. It is not confined to a few misguided clergymen. Politicians are enlisted, who for the sake of position and plunder will lend their influence to any scheme however nefarious ; though it be, as in this case, to stab to death religious freedom. The sense of security felt by the American people in the perpetuity of their nation is the opiate which lulls to sleep all fear of serious consequences from clerical interference in civil affairs. The declarations and demands of thousands of Christians already engaged in this religious combination is the best answer that can be given to the question, Is there any danger ?

Tuesday morning, June 27, 187 1, I open the Chicago Tribune which contains the following :

The Dubuque Herald has dug up and published the following letter from Rev. J. P. Newman, pastor of the Metropolitan Methodist Church of Washington, D. C, addressed to the leading Methodist clergymen of Iowa, in behalf of the re-election of Senator Harlan. It is said that the letter has created some excitement in the politico-religious circles in the Hawkeye State :

[confidential.]

AVashington, D. C, April 25, 1871.

Dear Brother : As a mutual friend, I drop you a few earnest words in behalf of Senator Harlan's re-election to

■AMERICAS FOES. I3

the United States Seriate. You know the importance of early and earnest action. The members elected to the next Legislature elect the Senator. It is, therefore, necessary that the right man be nominated, and hence, attention must be given to the primary meetings.

I am .glad to say to you that Senator Harlan is regular in his attendance on church, and his influence is in the right direction. I know personally that he stands high with the administration, and has influence with the President, and is held in high esteem by his fellow-Senators. His speech on San Domingo has given him an elevation few Senators enjoy. Hoping that you will in all suitable ways interest yourself for Mr. Harlan, I am truly yours, J. P. Newman.

There is a specimen of the wire-pulling that is steadily going on. The political warfare of the Christians will not be an open one if they can help it. They will avoid discussion and agitation in every form, unless they are assured that the " proper " sentiment will turn in their favor. " Senator Harlan is regular in his attendance on church" That is an essential qualification for holding oflice, according to the plan of ..Christian poHticians, The omens in the politico-religious heavens foretell the gathering storm. The liberal forces will co-operate with any party that will throw itself against the Christian politicians who are striving to ride into civil power, in order to rule the nation as they now control the common schools of the country. The plotting of Christian bigots is still successful, and they are using every means, honest and dishonest, to promote the glory of the church militant. The Protestant church will use the Republican party to accomplish its diabolical scheme of uniting Church and State. The Christian religion has forced itself into American politics and must take the consequences. The Christian political party, which makes its jealousy of Catholic rule in this country a pretext for a right to exist, will eventually unite with that powerful Catholic Church, on the plea that Christianity in any form, is preferable to infidelity. Protestant Christians of America favor the triumph of the Papal i)riesthood in France over the French Communists who more nearlv represent the American idea of self-government than does any sect of Christians.

To uproot the infidel principle of government in this country the clergy propose, through the powerful influence of the pulpit, and the still mightier influence of the press, to prepare popular sentiment to receive an idea at present repugnant to every true American — the incestuous union of Church and State, the bane of the old world, and the prolific parent of every conceivable form of despotism. Already have they begun to undermine the confidence of Americans in the grandeur of their free institutions, by heaping anathema and reproach upon the memory of our Revolutionary fathers, because they, in laying the foundations of American liberty, were guided by human wisdom instead of Jewish and Christian tradition. Says E. R. Craven, D. D., one of the leaders in this religious revolution, in an article published in the Christian Statesman, the organ of the National Association, Philadelphia, Pa., March 2, 1868 :

" The subject proposed for consideration is, certainly, one of the most important that can engage the attention of Americans. It is with great hesitation, however, that the writer enters upon its discussion. He reveres the memory of the Fathers of the Republic for their moral excellence, their exalted wisdom, their self-sacrificing patriotism, and many of them for their true piety ; and he esteems the Constitution they framed as one of the noblest products of human skill. It was with great difficulty he could bring himself to believe that there is an important defect in their great work, and it is with still greater difficulty that he now presumes to point out to others what he regards as the error. This he would scarce dare to do, had not many of the best and wisest of his countrymen preceded him in calling attention to the same defect."

What is the defect.^ The name of God is not once mentioned in the Constitution of the United States ! This omission has caused the clergy long and bitter lamentation. Because of this *' insult to God " J. H. Mcllvaine, Professor of

Political Science, in Princeton College, calls the fundamental law of the land a "godless Constitution." *

Rev. Mr. Craven, acknowledges that he would scarce dare to attack "one of the noblest products of human skill," the Constitution, if he had not the example of " many of the best and wisest [?] of his countrymen." By "best and wisest" he means his fellow-clergymen !

What do they propose to do to remedy this " defect ?" The Rev. Mr. Craven answers, that it cannot be " supplemented by any means short of the correction of the mstrument itself." Thus, they demand an amendment which shall overthrow our viagna-charta, and erect upon the ruins of our rights and privileges a spiritual despotism. Thousands of petitions, praying for a change which shall recognize God in the Constitution, are circulated among the people, and numerously signed. The clergy declare that it is highly necessary that God should be thus recognized ; for, unless it is done, he is dishonored, on account of which dishonor he will " break through " and visit the nation based upon a " godless " thing with " utter destruction." This threat frightens thousands of simple souls who are in the churches, and a few outside. E. R. Craven, D. D., says this terrible calamity will ensue unless God is honored by the proposed amendment.

In the first place, the clergy recommend that the Preamble be amended so as to explicitly acknowledge Almighty God as the Source of all authority and power in civil government. It is not enough, in their judgment, to have a constitution which was ordained to form a more perfect union than ever existed in the shape of government, and by means of which justice could be established, tranquillity ensured, the common defence of all citizens provided for, and their general welfare promoted. These blessings do not satisfy the clergy. The "general welfare" is too common. It takes away special favors, and places the clergy on the mean level with the rest of mankind. The " divines " want advantages over others

* Christian Statesman, Feb. 15, 1S68.

t6 the clergy a source of danger.

who happL-n to think differently from themselves about the things of this life, and more especially concerning the affairs of the next. They want the constitution " reformed " into a creed, and the government remodeled into a huge Christian Church, whose officers shall be Christians supported at the public expense, supported by the toiling millions whom (xod made on purpose to labor and to glorify him and his faithful ambassadors on earth (!) — especially the ambassadors. This scheme of the clergy to turn the government into a church eclipses the idea of a magnificent empire conceived by Aaron Burr.

Christians propose for insertion, after the words, " We the people," these : " Humbly acknowledging Almighty God as the source of all authority and power in civil government, the Lord Jesus Christ as the ruler among the nations, and his revealed will as of supreme authority, in order to constitute a Christian government," after which the balance of the preamble will follow in its present form. Our constitution already assures us union, justice, tranquillity, the greatest good to the greatest number. This is too liberal for our clerical friends. According to their nomenclature, '* equal rights " is only another name for infidelity.

If we will permit them to have their way about this matter they offer to take us under their protection. Prof. Mcllvaine puts in a strong claim, and invites us to " walk into my parlor." Hear him :

"AVe claim it as an inalienable right, and hold ourselves under the most sacred of all obligations, to govern ourselves in a Christian manner. But we cannot do this while we leave God out of our government. We dishonor and insult him, and draw upon our heads his just displeasure, and all those calamities from which we are now suffering. The right of the nation to acknowledge its God is as sacred and inalienable as the right of the individual to do it. We say therefore to a.11 objectors, you must not touch this right. We will not constrain your consciences. We will not touch your religious beliefs. We will protect you as ourselves in your nialienable civil right to worship God or not, as you judge best But when you take the ground that this nation shall

I not acknowledge God, because you as individuals do not believe in Him, you are unreasonable. You cannot be gratified. You may set your hearts at rest upon this point. For we will defend this right of our nation with our property, our lives, and our sacred honor. Necessity is laid upon us to do it."

The last few sentences have the ring of a " declaration of war." The gentlemen engaged in this movement are in earnest. Indeed the clergy, as a profession, are remarkable for zeal and great tenacity of purpose. They believe it to be their duty to acknowledge God, though it involve the destruction of republican government. There is a government which, to them, is of far more consequence, and to which they owe greater allegiance than to this. They are willing to shed blood to uphold their " king " and vindicate his authority as superior to this Jeffersonian, infidel affair, which they claim is an insult to him who is their Lord and Master. It is galling to their Christian consciences to live in such an infidel nation. They never have reflected that if American institutions do not suit them they are at liberty to take up their abode in any one of the many " kingdoms " already made to hand, and which were established by "divine right," fully recognizing the Jewish and Christian God, whom the founders of our nation "insulted," "dishonored," fairly snubbed.

It is folly to underrate the strength of opponents. It is no idle boast when Prof. Mcllvaine says Christians will defend this claim with their i)roperty, lives and sacred lienor. They should be credited with uttering their heartfelt convictions. Before this religious-political struggle is settled it is quite likely blood will be shed in some sections of the Union as the result of the efforts of religious bigots to destroy the liberty our fathers bequeathed us. Religion has often produced such a sad state of things; and, no doubt, will again disturb the peace now reigning in our land, Imi)robable } So said the masses of America's noble sons in reference to a certain 2

Other crisis, but who, a few months later, found themselves amid the dust and smoke of war.

The clergy claim the right to govern themselves in a Christian manner. Have they not that right now under the " godless constitution ?" Grant them what they ask and they will agree "not to touch your religious liberties;" nor to "constrain your consciences." They promise still more, to " protect you in your right to worship God or not." Amazing kindness ! Under the present constitution citizens do not need such protection. They are abundantly ^ble to take care of themselves. The fundamental law fully guarantees religious liberty to all. This is too broad for Christianity.

The declaration that Christians will protect people in their right to not worship God demolishes the whole argument that the nation is bound to worship God. Why is a nation bound to worship God ? Because a nation is an individual. (?) This is, by Christians, considered their strong argument. An assumption that an individual is bound to worship God is made the basis for an argument to show that a nation is a person, and therefore must worship God. Christianity denies that individuals have a right no^ to worship God, so that the promise not to "constrain your consciences," and to protect individuals in not worshiping, annihilates the core idea of the whole movement for national recognition of God. These God-in-the-Constitution Christians promise what none but an Atheist can fulfill. Atheists believe that a man has a riiiht not to worship any God ; and Prof. Mcllvaine, speaking in behalf of God-in-the-Constitution Christians, promises to protect them in this right. In other words will assist them to violate God's law ! Christianity insists that individuals owe God worship. None are exempt. Consequently a Christian nation would be an absolute despotism, compelling every individual to bow the knee to the Jewish-Christian divinity ; or be an outcast, having no right that Christians would feel bound to respect. Atheists, Infidels — in a word, all free-thinkers — would be disfranchised ; and compelled to observe religious requirements against which their souls are in continual revolt.

People who are not aroused to a sense of the danger which threatens the existence of our free institutions, ask, " What harm can there be in acquiescing in an amendment of the preamble ? The devoted Christian is grieved because of the omission of the name of God in the supreme law of the land." " All he asks, and all he expects," we have been told, " is that God shall be honored. To grant this reasonable request of a large body of Christian people would forever set at rest the conscience of the Christian, "and encroach upon the liberty of none." In the early stages of the discussion of this question this was the argument. As late as November, 1869, in the Iowa State Convention of Christians held at Oskaloosa, one clergyman, with a petition in his hand, read the preamble, and the proposed amendment :

" Rev. G. S. Adams. I want to notice this point : Here is the petition, (holding it in view of the audience.) The people of the United States ask Congress to adopt measures for amending the Constitution. The amendment is in the Preamble, not the body of the Constitution. The preamble lays down certain great principles to which we add others, acknowledging Almighty God as the source of all power in civil government, Jesus as Ruler of Nations, and the Bible as the Supreme Law. It is not in the Constitution, but the Preamble. It is simply to make IniincoDibe to say that the proposition is to change the Constitution itself. And the Infidel cannot urge any reasonable objection why we should not acknowledge these fundamental principles of our religion in the Preamble."

In that very petition from which the Reverend gentleman quoted there was a clause he accidentally overlooked. It was in these words :

" And \\t further ask that such changes be introduced into the body of the Constitution as may be necessary to give effect to these amendments in the preamble."

His attention was called to it at the time. The " buncombe " on that occasion was purely of " home manuiacture." The desire of the clergy to " honor God " is a pretext. They aim at power ! The design is to begin at the beginning, and Christianize the whole document. At that same Oskaloosa Convention a pamphlet was freely circulated, by one of the leading delegates, in which the amendments asked for are enumerated as follows :

" The following changes will be requisite in the Constitution itself:

"Art. II. Sec. i, clause 8, is as follows: 'Before he (the President) enter on the execution of his office, he shall take the following oath or affirmation ; I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and w^U, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.'