AN ACT authorizing the Governor to provide for the collecting together, and safe keeping of the public Arms (1814)

CHAPTER CLX.

AN ACT authorizing the Governor to provide for the collecting together, and safe keeping of the public Arms.

APPROVED, February 1, 1814.

WHEREAS it is represented to this present General Assembly that, that part of this state’s quota of arms and military accoutrements, received from the general government, are scattered and much abused, in consequence of there being no provisions made by this state for the reception and safe keeping of the same: Wherefore,

Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, That the governor is hereby authorized and empowered to take such steps for collecting of said arms as he may think proper; and when so collected, to appropriate a sufficient number of rooms in the penitentiary or elsewhere, in the town of Frankfort, for the deposit and safe keeping of the said arms, and other military accoutrements, Any expenses incurred by the governor under the provisions of this act, shall be paid out of the public treasury, on the amount of said expenses, being certified by the governor to the auditor of public accounts: Provided, that the governor may, at his discretion, from time to time distribute the said arms and accoutrements, or as many of them as he may think proper, amongst the different independent volunteer companies, or troops of the militia of this state; taking bond and security of the commanding officer of such company or troop respectively, for the safe keeping and returning of such arms to the quarter-master general of this state, whenever called on for that purpose.

(Reference: Kentucky Acts, 1814, pages 208-09)

In Collins’ Annals of Kentucky it states:

Feb 4 [1818]--$300 appropriated to pay for a plan for a state armory.

(Reference: Collins’ History of Kentucky, Page 28)