Passport Act of 1782

Resolved, That the secretary of Congress be, and hereby is empowered to grant letters of passport and safe conduct for the exportation of such tobacco to New York, on the conditions and under the limitations which shall, to the said Secretary and to the Superintendant of the finances of the United States, appear most proper and beneficial to the said states, being consistent with the said capitulation: provided always, that permission be not given for the exporting of tobacco, beyond the amount of the produce of the sales of the said goods belonging to the capitulants abovementioned.

- Congress of the Confederation ~ Journals of the Continental Congress, Volume 22 (Monday, February 11, 1782)^[1]

The committee, consisting of Mr. Thomas Fitzsimmons, Mr. Oliver Ellsworth, Mr. John Lewis Gervais, Mr. Nathaniel Gorham and Mr. Alexander Hamilton, to whom were referred resolutions of the general assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia, dated 28 December, 1782, respecting the shipment of a quantity of tobacco, under passports granted by the secretary of Congress;

- Congress of the Confederation ~ Journals of the Continental Congress, Volume 24 (Monday, February 10, 1783)^[2]

United States federal statutes establishing authorities, powers, and rulings with regards to passports and sea letters awarded within the United States.

In June 1775, John Adams and George Wythe orchestrated the eminent attributes for international accord known as a Model Treaty.

Colonial America consented to terms with European dominions for respective commerce, maritime trade, and navigation regulations upon the conclusion of the American Revolution. During the cessation of the 18th century, mediterranean basin treaties were settled upon by the North African Barbary Coast and the Iberian Peninsula foreign states.

The multinational protocol documents or treaties endorse the use of passports and sea-letters for state sovereignty identification of merchant ships navigating the seven seas. The safe-conduct permits were allocated in the event of a declaration of war between nations while sequestering manners of dissension and quarrels. The travel dockets governed the full-rigged ship name, bulk and cargo aboard sailing ship, and the identity of commanders or shipmasters including their place of habitation.

Articles of Foreign Transit

Maritime Navigation and trade

Origins of Passport

• Richard Montgomery, Continental Army (November 12, 1775). "Articles of Capitulation ~ Citizens and Inhabitants of Montreal". Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. United States Library of Congress. LCCN 90898002.
• Confederation Congress (May 2, 1780). "Instructions to the Captains and Commanders of Private Armed Vessels". Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. United States Library of Congress. LCCN 90898062.
• Confederation Congress (March 27, 1781). "An Ordinance - Capture and Condemnation of Prizes". Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. United States Library of Congress. LCCN 90898065.
• Confederation Congress (April 7, 1781). "Instructions be Observed by the Captains or Commanders of Private Armed Vessels". Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. United States Library of Congress. LCCN 90898104.
• Confederation Congress (December 4, 1781). "An Ordinance - Captures On Water Shall Be Lawful". Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. United States Library of Congress. LCCN 90898114.
• Confederation Congress (February 12, 1788). "Minister Plenipotentiary Sea Letters for Courts of London and the Hague". Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 (Tuesday, February 12, 1788). United States Library of Congress: 39–41.