On 21 December 1776, the Committee for Detecting Conspiracies (created by the New York Convention) noted that Peter Van Schaack had “long maintained an equivocal Neutrality in the present Struggles” and “in General supposed unfriendly to the American Cause and from influence [is enabled to do it essential Injury.” The Committee for Detecting Conspiracies summoned Peter Van Schaack and his brother to appear to ask whether they consider themselves to be subjects of New York or of Great Britain, and either impose an oath of allegiance or remove them to Boston. On 9 January 1777, he appeared before the Committee and was asked to take an oath of allegiance to the independent state of New York. He refused, but explained his reasons. "I am condemned … upon a charge of maintaining an equivocal neutrality in the present struggles…. When I appeared before the Albany Committee, I refused to answer the question my allegiance…. The reason … it is premature, to tender an oath of allegiance before the government to which it imposes subjection, the time it is to take place of the present exceptionable one, and who are to be the rulers, as well as the mode of their appointment in future, are known…. I hold it that you cannot justly put me to the alternative of choosing to be a subject of Great Britain, or of this State, because should I deny subjection to Great Britain, it would not follow that I must necessarily be a member of the State of New-York; on the contrary, I should still hold that I had a right, by the “immutable laws of nature,” to choose any other State of which I would become a member."