Difference between revisions of "Agreement of Secrecy"

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[[File:AgreementOfSecrecyP1.jpg|thumb|right|500px|Page one of the "Agreement of Secrecy," signed by members of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, November 9, 1775. [http://www.archives.gov/historical-docs/todays-doc/?dod-date=1109 National Archives.]]]
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[[File:AgreementOfSecrecyP1.jpg|thumb|right|500px|Page one of the "Agreement of Secrecy," signed by members of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, November 9, 1775. Original at the [http://www.archives.gov/historical-docs/todays-doc/?dod-date=1109 National Archives,] Washington, D.C.]]
 
On Tuesday morning, September 6, 1774, the [[wikipedia:Continental Congress|First Continental Congress]], convened in Philadelphia's Carpenter's Hall, passed a resolution to keep their proceedings secret:
 
On Tuesday morning, September 6, 1774, the [[wikipedia:Continental Congress|First Continental Congress]], convened in Philadelphia's Carpenter's Hall, passed a resolution to keep their proceedings secret:
 
<blockquote>
 
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Dear Sir:<br />
 
Dear Sir:<br />
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I am under such restrictions, injunctions, and engagements of secrecy respecting every thing which passes in Congress, that I cannot communicate my own thoughts freely to my friends, so far as is necessary to ask their advice and opinions concerning questions, which many of them understand much better than I do. This, however, is an inconvenience which must be submitted to for the sake of superior advantages.<ref>Edmund Cody Burnett, ed., [http://books.google.com/books?id=7TMSAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA249 ''Letters of Members of the Continental Congress,''] vol. 1 ''August 29, 1774, to July 4, 1776'' (Washington, D.C.: Carnegie Institution of Washington, 1921), 249. See also 255n2, for Adams' mentions of secrecy.</ref>
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I am under such restrictions, injunctions, and engagements of secrecy respecting every thing which passes in Congress, that I cannot communicate my own thoughts freely to my friends, so far as is necessary to ask their advice and opinions concerning questions, which many of them understand much better than I do. This, however, is an inconvenience which must be submitted to for the sake of superior advantages.<ref>Edmund C. Burnett, ed., [http://books.google.com/books?id=7TMSAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA249 ''Letters of Members of the Continental Congress,''] vol. 1 ''August 29, 1774, to July 4, 1776'' (Washington, D.C.: Carnegie Institution of Washington, 1921), 249. See also 255n2, for Adams' mentions of secrecy.</ref>
 
</blockquote>
 
</blockquote>
  
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Congress adopted an official "Engagement of the Members to Secresy" on November 9, 1775. The manuscript, now in the [http://www.archives.gov/historical-docs/todays-doc/?dod-date=1109 United States National Archives,] is in the handwriting of secretary [[wikipedia:Charles Thomson|Charles Thomson]], and was signed by the members then present. Other delegates signed the agreement as they arrived, with the last signatures appended on June 5, 1777. [[George Wythe]] and the other members of the Virginia Delegation&mdash;[[wikipedia:Richard Henry Lee|Richard Henry Lee]], [[Thomas Jefferson]], [[wikipedia:Benjamin Harrison V|Benjamin Harrison]], [[wikipedia:Thomas Nelson, Jr.|Thomas Nelson]] and [[wikipedia:Francis Lightfoot Lee|Francis Lightfoot Lee]]&mdash;probably signed on or about the 13th of September, when their credentials were presented to and approved by Congress.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=pndUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA137 ''Journals,''] 137.</ref>
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Edmund C. Burnett notes an increase in references to secrecy in Congressional correspondence in 1775:
  
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The increasing pressure for secrecy during 1774-1775 was in response not only to information leaked in communications from delegates,<ref>John Adams, writing to James Warren on October 2, 1775, said: "Our Obligations of Secrecy are so braced up, that I must deny myself the Pleasure of Writing Particulars. Not because some Letters have been intercepted, for notwithstanding the Versification of them, they have done good, tho they have made some People grin." Burnett, [http://books.google.com/books?id=7TMSAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA249 ''Letters,''] 213-214.</ref> but to King George III's royal "[[wikipedia:Proclamation of Rebellion|Proclamation of Rebellion]]" on August 23, 1775, declaring Congress's activities traitorous, and commanding all British officers and loyal subjects to "transmit to one of our principal Secretaries of State, or other proper officer, due and full information of all persons who shall be found carrying on correspondence with, or in any manner or degree aiding or abetting the persons now in open arms and rebellion against our Government."
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<blockquote>
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The frequent mention since early in October of the requirement of secrecy indicate that the resolve of May 11 had been broken by members of Congress and that pressure of some sort had been brought to bear upon them to induce them to observe this obligation. On Nov. 9 a resolution of a very rigid character was adopted, which members were required to sign and the violation of which incurred the penalty of expulsion from Congress and denunciation as an enemy to the liberties of America.<ref>Burnett, [http://books.google.com/books?id=7TMSAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA255 ''Letters,''] 255n2.</ref>
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The "rigid" resolution adopted by Congress on November 9, 1775 was officially endorsed as an "Engagement of the Members to Secresy." The manuscript, now in the [http://www.archives.gov/historical-docs/todays-doc/?dod-date=1109 United States National Archives,] is in the handwriting of secretary [[wikipedia:Charles Thomson|Charles Thomson]], signed by the members then present. Other delegates signed the agreement as they arrived, with the last signatures appended in June, 1777. [[George Wythe]] and the other members of the Virginia Delegation&mdash;[[wikipedia:Richard Henry Lee|Richard Henry Lee]], [[Thomas Jefferson]], [[wikipedia:Benjamin Harrison V|Benjamin Harrison]], [[wikipedia:Thomas Nelson, Jr.|Thomas Nelson]] and [[wikipedia:Francis Lightfoot Lee|Francis Lightfoot Lee]]&mdash;probably signed in November, since their credentials were presented to and approved by Congress on 13th of September, 1775.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=pndUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA137 ''Journals,''] 137.</ref> Their signatures appear on the [[#Page 2|second page]] of the document.
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Burnett also notes the difficulty in ascertaining the dates and order of signatures to the document:
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<blockquote>
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A facsimile of the document is in [[#Facsimile of agreement|Force, ''Am. Arch.,'']] fourth ser., III. 1915, and in ''Warren-Adams Letters,'' I. 126. The resolution was signed by members as late as June, 1777, the last signature to which a date is attached being that of William Duer, June 5, 1777. It is probable that the three remaining signatures, those of Nicholas Van Dyke, Henry Marchant, and George Frost, were appended the same day. Duer had been in attendance since Apr. 7, 1777, Van Dyke only since June 2, while Frost had attended May 16, Marchant May 31.<ref>Burnett, ''Letters,'' 255n.</ref>
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</blockquote>
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The increasing pressure for secrecy during 1774-1775 was in response not only to information leaked in communications from delegates,<ref>John Adams, writing to James Warren on October 2, 1775, said: "Our Obligations of Secrecy are so braced up, that I must deny myself the Pleasure of Writing Particulars. Not because some Letters have been intercepted, for notwithstanding the Versification of them, they have done good, tho they have made some People grin." Burnett, [http://books.google.com/books?id=7TMSAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA249 ''Letters,''] 213-214.</ref> but to King George III's "[[wikipedia:Proclamation of Rebellion|Proclamation of Rebellion]]" on August 23, 1775, following the [[wikipedia:Battle of Bunker Hill|Battle of Bunker Hill]]. The royal proclamation declared Congress's activities traitorous, and commanded all British officers and loyal subjects to "transmit to one of our principal Secretaries of State, or other proper officer, due and full information of all persons who shall be found carrying on correspondence with, or in any manner or degree aiding or abetting the persons now in open arms and rebellion against our Government."
  
 
==Manuscript text, 9 November 1775==
 
==Manuscript text, 9 November 1775==
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Resolved&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;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.
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Resolved&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;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 & liable to be treated as such, & that every member signify his consent to this agreement by signing the same.
  
 
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===Page 2===
 
===Page 2===
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[[File:AgreementOfSecrecyP2.jpg|thumb|left|373px|Page two of the "Agreement of Secrecy," signed by members of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, November 9, 1775, [http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-01-02-0132 National Archives.]]]
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[[File:AgreementOfSecrecyP2.jpg|thumb|left|350px|Page two of the "Agreement of Secrecy," signed by members of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Original at the [http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-01-02-0132 National Archives,] Washington, D.C.]]
 
[[File:AgreementOfSecrecy9November1775p2.jpg|thumb|right|275px|Page two of the "Agreement of Secrecy," November 9, 1775, Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention, Record Group 360, National Archives. Image from [http://www.fold3.com/image/433619/ fold3.]]]
 
[[File:AgreementOfSecrecy9November1775p2.jpg|thumb|right|275px|Page two of the "Agreement of Secrecy," November 9, 1775, Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention, Record Group 360, National Archives. Image from [http://www.fold3.com/image/433619/ fold3.]]]
  
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ForceAmericanArchives1840AgreementOfSecrecy.jpg|Facsimile reproduction of the "Agreement to Secrecy," November 9, 1775. In Peter Force's [https://catalog.swem.wm.edu/law/Record/316666 ''American Archives,''] 4th ser., vol. 3 (Washington, D.C.: M. St. Clair and Peter Force, 1840), between 1916 and 1917.
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ForceAmericanArchives1840AgreementOfSecrecy.jpg|Facsimile reproduction of the "Agreement of Secrecy," November 9, 1775. In Peter Force's [https://wm.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01COWM_INST/g9pr7p/alma991015610329703196 ''American Archives,''] 4th ser., vol. 3 (Washington, D.C.: M. St. Clair and Peter Force, 1840), between pp. 1916 and 1917.
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ForceAmericanArchives1840AgreementOfSecrecy2.jpg|Facsimile reproduction of the "Agreement to Secrecy," November 9, 1775. In Peter Force's [https://catalog.swem.wm.edu/law/Record/316666 ''American Archives,''] 4th ser., vol. 3 (Washington, D.C.: M. St. Clair and Peter Force, 1840), between 1916 and 1917.
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ForceAmericanArchives1840AgreementOfSecrecy2.jpg|Facsimile reproduction of the "Agreement of Secrecy," November 9, 1775. In Peter Force's [https://wm.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01COWM_INST/g9pr7p/alma991015610329703196 ''American Archives,''] 4th ser., vol. 3 (Washington, D.C.: M. St. Clair and Peter Force, 1840), between pp. 1916 and 1917.
 
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Latest revision as of 10:07, 11 September 2023

Page one of the "Agreement of Secrecy," signed by members of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, November 9, 1775. Original at the National Archives, Washington, D.C.

On Tuesday morning, September 6, 1774, the First Continental Congress, convened in Philadelphia's Carpenter's Hall, passed a resolution to keep their proceedings secret:

Resolved, That the door be kept shut during the time of business, and that the members consider themselves under the strongest obligations of honour, to keep the proceedings secret, until the majority shall direct them to be made public.

This resolve was reiterated on May 11, 1775 by the Second Continental Congress, by that time reconvened at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia.[1] John Adams mentions he is under an "engagement of secrecy" in a letter to Elbridge Gerry, dated November 5, 1775:

Dear Sir:
I am under such restrictions, injunctions, and engagements of secrecy respecting every thing which passes in Congress, that I cannot communicate my own thoughts freely to my friends, so far as is necessary to ask their advice and opinions concerning questions, which many of them understand much better than I do. This, however, is an inconvenience which must be submitted to for the sake of superior advantages.[2]

Edmund C. Burnett notes an increase in references to secrecy in Congressional correspondence in 1775:

The frequent mention since early in October of the requirement of secrecy indicate that the resolve of May 11 had been broken by members of Congress and that pressure of some sort had been brought to bear upon them to induce them to observe this obligation. On Nov. 9 a resolution of a very rigid character was adopted, which members were required to sign and the violation of which incurred the penalty of expulsion from Congress and denunciation as an enemy to the liberties of America.[3]

The "rigid" resolution adopted by Congress on November 9, 1775 was officially endorsed as an "Engagement of the Members to Secresy." The manuscript, now in the United States National Archives, is in the handwriting of secretary Charles Thomson, signed by the members then present. Other delegates signed the agreement as they arrived, with the last signatures appended in June, 1777. George Wythe and the other members of the Virginia Delegation—Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson and Francis Lightfoot Lee—probably signed in November, since their credentials were presented to and approved by Congress on 13th of September, 1775.[4] Their signatures appear on the second page of the document.

Burnett also notes the difficulty in ascertaining the dates and order of signatures to the document:

A facsimile of the document is in Force, Am. Arch., fourth ser., III. 1915, and in Warren-Adams Letters, I. 126. The resolution was signed by members as late as June, 1777, the last signature to which a date is attached being that of William Duer, June 5, 1777. It is probable that the three remaining signatures, those of Nicholas Van Dyke, Henry Marchant, and George Frost, were appended the same day. Duer had been in attendance since Apr. 7, 1777, Van Dyke only since June 2, while Frost had attended May 16, Marchant May 31.[5]

The increasing pressure for secrecy during 1774-1775 was in response not only to information leaked in communications from delegates,[6] but to King George III's "Proclamation of Rebellion" on August 23, 1775, following the Battle of Bunker Hill. The royal proclamation declared Congress's activities traitorous, and commanded all British officers and loyal subjects to "transmit to one of our principal Secretaries of State, or other proper officer, due and full information of all persons who shall be found carrying on correspondence with, or in any manner or degree aiding or abetting the persons now in open arms and rebellion against our Government."

Manuscript text, 9 November 1775

Page 1

Page one of the "Agreement of Secrecy," signed by members of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, November 9, 1775. Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention, Record Group 360, National Archives. Image from fold3.

In Congress Nov.r 9.th 17 [75]

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 & liable to be treated as such, & that every member signify his consent to this agreement by signing the same.

B Franklin

John Dickinson

E Biddle

Jas Duane

Lewis Morris

Frans Lewis

Wm. Floyd

Robt R Livingston junr

Henry Wisner

Step.n Crane

Wil: Livingston

Tho.s Willing

And.w Allen

C: Humphreys

James Wilson

Robt Morris

John Hancock

Josiah Bartlett

John Langdon

Thomas Cushing

Saml Adams

John Adams

Robt Treat Paine

Step. Hopkins

Sam. Ward

Elipht Dyer

Roger Sherman

Silas Deane




Page 2

Page two of the "Agreement of Secrecy," signed by members of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Original at the National Archives, Washington, D.C.
Page two of the "Agreement of Secrecy," November 9, 1775, Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention, Record Group 360, National Archives. Image from fold3.

Th Johnson Junr

Wm Paca

Samuel Chase


Richard Henry Lee

Th: Jefferson

Benja Harrison

Thos Nelson jr

G Wythe

Francis Lightfoot Lee

John Penn

Will Hooper

Joseph Hewes Nov. 10.th


Tho Lynch

Christ Gadsden

Edward Rutledge

Arch:d Bulloch

John Houstoun

Thomas Lynch Junr

Arthur Middleton

Fras. Hopkinson 28 June

Thos M:Kean

Geo: Read

Cæsar Rodney

John Jay

Rich:d Smith (Jersey)
Philad.a 18 Jany. 1776.


Saml Huntington

Rob.t Alexander

Oliver Wolcott

J Rogers

Elbridge Gerry


T: Stone

Jona D Sergeant

Geo: Clinton

W:m Whipple

Mat. Tilghman

Carter Braxton

Thos Heyward Jun:r

{ May 20th Lyman Hall

{ 20th Button Gwinnett

William Ellery

Jno Witherspoon


Page 3

Page three of the "Agreement of Secrecy," November 9, 1775, Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention, Record Group 360, National Archives. Image from fold3.
Page four of the "Agreement of Secrecy," November 9, 1775, endorsed by Charles Thomson as "Engagement of the Members to Secresy." Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention, Record Group 360, National Archives. Image from fold3.

Abra: Clark

Geo Walton

John Hart

B Rush. 22 July 1776

Wm. Williams, 30 July 1776

Geo. Clymer

Chas. Carroll

Jonath.n Elmer

Mann Page Junr

Nathan Brownson Feb 3d 1777

Matthew Thornton

James Lovell

Tho. Burke

W: Smith

W:m Duer June 5:th 1777

Nich.s VanDyke

Hy Marchant

Geo: Frost



Facsimile of agreement

  • Facsimile reproduction of the "Agreement of Secrecy," November 9, 1775. In Peter Force's American Archives, 4th ser., vol. 3 (Washington, D.C.: M. St. Clair and Peter Force, 1840), between pp. 1916 and 1917.

  • Facsimile reproduction of the "Agreement of Secrecy," November 9, 1775. In Peter Force's American Archives, 4th ser., vol. 3 (Washington, D.C.: M. St. Clair and Peter Force, 1840), between pp. 1916 and 1917.

References

  1. ↑ Journals of the American Congress: from 1774 to 1788, vol. 1, From September 5, 1774, to December 31, 1776, Inclusive (Washington, D.C.: Way and Gideon, 1823), 7, 55.
  2. ↑ Edmund C. Burnett, ed., Letters of Members of the Continental Congress, vol. 1 August 29, 1774, to July 4, 1776 (Washington, D.C.: Carnegie Institution of Washington, 1921), 249. See also 255n2, for Adams' mentions of secrecy.
  3. ↑ Burnett, Letters, 255n2.
  4. ↑ Journals, 137.
  5. ↑ Burnett, Letters, 255n.
  6. ↑ John Adams, writing to James Warren on October 2, 1775, said: "Our Obligations of Secrecy are so braced up, that I must deny myself the Pleasure of Writing Particulars. Not because some Letters have been intercepted, for notwithstanding the Versification of them, they have done good, tho they have made some People grin." Burnett, Letters, 213-214.

External links

Retrieved from "http://lawlibrary.wm.edu/wythepedia/index.php?title=Agreement_of_Secrecy&oldid=74367"