
Page 1 |
In the Journal of the House of Representatives of
the United States for 1825-1826, and more specifically, on March 23,
1826, a Kentucky representative, Mr. James
Johnson, submitted a resolution that the military build an armory at
Horse Shoe Bend, in Pendleton county, Kentucky. That's it on the little
images at the left, starting in the middle of the first page.
The petition is signed
by a number of Pendleton Countians, and you can read the entire
petition.
His resolution read:
Resolved, That the
Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to report a bill authorizing
the Secretary of War to appoint three Commissioners to survey and
examine the Horse Shoe Bend upon Licking river, in the county of
Pendleton, in the State of Kentucky, and if, upon such survey
and examination, the same shall be found suitable to authorize the
President of the United States to cause to be erected, at the Horse Shoe
Bend aforesaid, a National Armory, similar to those already erected at
Springfield and Harper's Ferry.
The said resolution was
read, and considered until the arrival of the hour for passing to the
orders of the day.
Skip forward to
December 18, 1826 – seven months later. In the Journal of the Senate of
the United States of America, 1789-1873, we read that:
Mr. Johnson, of Kentucky, presented
the petition of sundry inhabitants of Pendleton county, in the
State of Kentucky, praying that a National Armory may be
established at a Point on Licking river called the Horse Shoe Bend; and
Ordered, That it be referred to the
Committee on Military Affairs.
That was in the Senate, in the House, on the same day, we have, from
the Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States,
1826-1827, December 18, 1826, this item:
Mr. McHatton laid the
following resolution on the table for cconsideration to-morrow, viz:
Resolved, That the Secretary of War be instructed to appoint three
commissioners to survey and examine the Horse-Shoe Bend, upon Licking
River, in the County of Pendleton, in the State of Kentucky;
and if, upon such survey and examination, the same shall be found
suitable, to authorize the President of the United States to cause to be
erected at the Horse-Shoe Bend, aforesaid, a national armory, similar to
those already erected at Springfield and Harper's Ferry; that they
report the same to the Secretary of War, who shall, early in the next
session of Congress, report the same to this House.
One week later, we can read in the Journal of the House of
Representatives of the United States, 1826-1827, December 26, 1826.
The House proceeded to the consideration of
the resolution moved by Mr. McHatton, on the 18th instant; when the same
was read, and modified, as follows:
Resolved, That the Committee on Military
Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of authorizing the
Secretary of War to appoint one or more skilful engineers to examine the
Horse Shoe Bend, on Licking river, in Pendleton county, in the
State of Kentucky; and, also, the waters of the Tennessee and
Cumberland rivers, as far as the falls of the latter: and to report upon
the fitness of these places, respectively, as a site for a National
Armory, similar to the armories of the United States, at Springfield and
Harper's Ferry.
A motion was then made by Mr. Marable, to
amend the resolution by inserting therein, after the word "latter,"
these words: "Also, the site on the Narrows of Harpeth, (as suggested by
the Legislature of the State of Tennessee.) on the Cumberland River."
Pending the question on this amendment--it
was again
Ordered, That the said resolution do lie on
the table.
The Horse Shoe Bend
Arsenal is heard of no further.
|