And whereas sound Policy and common Charity require that every Person so refusing should be admitted to take the said Oath or Affirmation if he or she shall notwithstanding such refusal, voluntarily offer to take the same, before the Commencement of his or her Actual removal -- i- Be it therefore enacted by the People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly and it is hereby enacted by the Authourity of the same, that every Person who has already refused, or shall hereafter refuse to take the said Oath or Affirmation and shall before the actual Commencement of his or her removal as aforesaid voluntarily offer to take said Oath or Affirmation before any three of the said Commissioners shall be admitted to

Appendix I: Laws, February 17, 1779.

Minutes of Commissioners for Conspiracies 333

take the same and on taking thereof shall be and hereby 1779 Apr. 25. is declared to be fully and wholly absolved from all the Penalties of the saidLaw, such former Refusal or any Thing in the said Law, to the contrary in any wise Notwithstanding. Provided always that nothing herein contained shall extend or apply to the Cases of those who by virtue of the said Law now are or shall hereafter be detained and confined by the Person administring the Government of this State for the Time being for the Purpose of Exchanging them for any of the Subjects of this State in the Power of the enemy. 2rr And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid that all and singular the Powers and Authorities vested in the [37] said Commissioners are hereby continued until twenty Days after the next meeting of the Legislature and a Quorum of both Houses shall be convened on Business in like Manner as the same are continued in and by an Act entitled An Act for Continuing the Powers of the Commissioners for detecting and defeating Conspiracies passed the 29- day of October last; and the Treasurer of this State shallbe and he is hereby authorized and required to pay to the said Commissioners or any three of them such further