Letter from Thomas Paine to Henry Laurens about an affair that "deserves the attention of Congress." Paine describes a group of people from Philadelphia with a "flag from the Enemy" that were jailed in Lancaster for "attempting to put off Counterfeit Control. Money." Paine believes that they will escape due to legal maneuverings related to the act of Congress that makes counterfeiting money a felony. Specifically, that the Congressional act uses the term emitted makes it so that the offenders can argue that "the Act cannot be applied to any Money emitted after the date of the Act". Paine describes what he believes Congress intended by the term "emitted". He encourages Congress to remedy situation. Paine appends a note to this letter that describes the outcome of the trial in Lancaster.; Contains transcript of letter.; American Philosophical Society
