United States Statutes at Large/Volume 1/5th Congress/2nd Session/Chapter 65
Chap. ⅬⅩⅤ.—An Act providing Arms for the Militia throughout the United States.
Section 1. 30,000 stands of arms to be provided, and sold to the state governments, and
Act of April 23, 1808, ch. 55.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there shall be provided, at the charge and expense of the government of the United States, thirty thousand stand of arms, which shall be deposited by order of the President of the United States, at suitable places; for the purpose of being sold to the governments of the respective States, or the militia thereof, under such regulations, and at such prices as the President of the United States shall prescribe.
Sec. 2. those remaining unsold may be delivered to the militia, when called into service. And be it further enacted, That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby authorized to cause all or any part of the arms herein directed to be provided and deposited for sale, which shall, at any time, remain unsold, to be delivered to the militia, when called into the service of the United States, proper receipts and security being given for the return of the same.
Sec. 3. Amount of sales to be paid into the Treasury. And be it further enacted, That the monies arising from such sales shall be paid into the treasury of the United States, and the amount received shall be annually reported to Congress.
Sec. 4. Appropriation. And be it further enacted, That for the purpose of carrying this act into effect, the President of the United States shall be, and he is hereby authorized to draw from the treasury of the United States, a sum not exceeding four hundred thousand dollars, to be paid out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
Approved, July 6, 1798.