History of Westchester County, New York, Vol. I
"That all persons, members of or owing allegiance " to any of the United Colonies, as before described, " who shall levy war against any of the said Colonies, " within the same, or be adherent to the King of Great " Britain or others, the enemies of the said Colonies, or " any of them, within the same, giving to him or them "aid or comfort, are guilty of treason against such " Colony.
"That it be recommended to the Legislatures of " the several United Colonies to pass Laws for punish- " ing, in such manner as to them shall seem fit, such " persons, as before described, as shall be proveably "attainted of open deed, by people of their condi- "tions, of any of the treasons before described.
" That it be recommended to the Legislatures of "the several United Colonies, to pass Laws for pun- "ishing, in such manner as they shall think fit, per- " sons who shall counterfeit, or aid or abet in coun- "terfeiting, the Continental Bills of Credit, or who "shall pass any such Bill, in payment, knowing the "same to be counterfeit.
" By order of Congress,
" John Hancock, President." '
The Journal of the Continental Congress tells us that this remarkable paper formed a part of the Report of the Committee on Spies, to that body ; and that Com-
1 Journal of Die ProviHcial CongreM, "Wednesday morning, June 26, " 1776."
s Journal of Ihe Provincial CongreM: Correspondence, ii., 196. See, also, Journal of the Continental Congrete, "Monday, June 24, " 1776."