Final answer:
The 'improper threats' mentioned in the student's question refer to the coercion faced by officers during a period of civil unrest as indicated in the historical document, characterized by a weak government unable to protect its officials.
Step-by-step explanation:
The improper threats mentioned relate to the historical context in which a document was written. It appears that during the time the document was authored, there was significant unrest on the continent, possibly during a period of revolution or civil strife. Intimidation and distress were prevalent as the Act's officers resigned their posts due to the terror spread by ill designing people, implying that threats, possibly violent in nature, were used to influence political or legal processes.
The document suggests that the government's power was too weak to protect these officers from threats, indicating a period of weak central authority and lawlessness. Furthermore, the language used in the text suggests an effort to make the public aware of these perspectives, and thereby caution against impending dangers, without making definitive statements about possible perils ahead—a technique often employed to prevent the outright spread of panic while still informing about potential threats.