Three months after the King declared every rebel a traitor, and with a reward posted for the capture of certain prominent rebel leaders, the delegates to Congress adopted these strict rules of secrecy to protect the cause of American liberty and their own lives.
In this Engagement of the Members to Secrecy, the Continental Congress members agreed “under the ties of virtue, honor, and love of his Country” not to discuss anything without leave of Congress. When the members of the Continental Congress signed this oath, they agreed that violating this oath would mean expulsion from the Congress and being considered “an enemy to the liberties of America.”
This document bears the signatures of eighty-seven delegates; thirty-nine signed on November 9, and the other delegates signed as they reported to Congress.
