And that ever^ " such person or persons, who shall be Ibund guilty " of a second offence of the same kind, shall be ban- " ished from this Colony, for the term of seven years "from the time of such seco.'id conviction.
"Although this Congress have a tender regard to " the freedom of Speech, the rights of Conscience, " antl j)ersonal Liberty, as far iis an indulgence in " these particulars may be consistent with our gen- " eral security ; yet, for the i)ublic safety, belt
" Resolved, That if any person or persons shall, " hereafter, oppose or deny the authority of the Con- "tinentalor of this Congress, or the Committee of " Safety, or the Committees of the respective "Counties, Cities, Towns, Manors, Precincts, or Dis " tricts in this Colony, or dissuade any person or " persons from obeying the recommendations of the '• Continental or this Congress, or the Committee oi' "Safety, or the Committees aforesaid, and be thereof' "convicted before the Committee of the County or "any thirteen or more of their number, who shall or " may meet upon a general call of the Chairman of " such Committee where such person or persons may "reside, that such Committee shall cause such of " fenders to be disarmed ; -' and Ibr the second oflence-
1 Charles Lee, the second in cominaml in tli* Continent.al Army, IihiI not, tlien, liiiil liis wt'll-deviscJ " P?>i)i " before (ipneral Howe; (ieiionil Saniuol IL Piirsons Imil not yet coinmenceJ the siipplv of information, ctnicerning projected military movements, etc., thnmgh Squire ■•Heron," to Sir Henry Clinton ; Israel Putnam had not yet led Robert R. Livinj^ton to "question" "his very fidelity ;" and Benedict Arnold, maddened by wrongs imposed on him, had not yet connnenced his correspondence with .lolin .\ndr6.