Engagement of the Members to Secrecy
11/9/1775
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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.
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.
Transcript
Resolved That every member of this Congress considers himself under the ties of virtue, honor and love of his Country not to divulge directly or indirectly any matter or thing agitated or debated in Congress before the same shall have been determined, without leave of the Congress; nor any matter or thing determined in Congress which a majority of the Congress shall order to be kept secret, and that if any member shall violate this agreement he shall be expelled this Congress and deemed an enemy to the liberties of America and liable to be treated as such, and that every member signify his consent to this agreement by signing the same.
This primary source comes from the Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention.
National Archives Identifier: 24329848
Full Citation: Engagement of the Members to Secrecy; 11/9/1775; Rough Secret Journal; Papers of the Continental Congress, 1774 - 1789; Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention, Record Group 360; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/agreement-of-secrecy, April 30, 2025]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.
