And that every " such person or persons, who shall be found 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 second conviction.

" Although this Congress have a tender regard to " the freedom of Speech, the rights of Conscience, " and personal Liberty, as far as an indulgence in " these particulars may be consistent with our gen- " eral security ; yet, for the public safety, be it

" Resolved, That if any person or persons shall, " hereafter, oppose or deny the authority of the Con- " tinental or 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 of "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 came such of " fenders to be disarmed ; 2 and for the second offence-

1 Charles Loe, the second ill command in the Continental Army, had not, then, laid his vvell-devisod "Plan" before General Howe; General Samuel H. Parsons had not yet commoncod tho supply of information concerning projected military movements, etc., through '"Squire " Heron," to Sir Henry Clinton ; Israel Putnam had not yet led Kobort B. Livingston to "question" "his very fidelity;" and Benedict Arnold, maddened by wrongs imposed on him, had not yet commenced his correspondence with John Andre.