A Resolution for the relief of the Inhabitants of the County of New Madrid

Whereas in the Catalogue of miseries and afflictions, with which it has pleased the 
Supreme being of the universe, to visit the Inhabitants of this earth, there are none 
more truly awful and destructive than Earthquakes_  Man’s wisdom can not foresee, nor 
his precaution guard against them_  In whatever Sections of the habitable world, this 
wreck of matter, these convulsions of nature occur, they do not fail profoundly to 
impress us with awe, and to excite our astonishment at their terrible effects_  As 
members of the great human family, our deepest commiseration should not fail to be 
excited, and our hearts expanded with charity for the relief of those whose whole lives 
are saved from the general wreck_  We ought never to forget that what was their fate 
yesterday may be ours tomorrow_  And whereas it is notorious to this general assembly, 
that the Inhabitants of the late District now County of New Madrid in this Territory, 
have lately been visited with several calamites of this Kind, which have deluged large 
sections of their country and involved in the greatest distress, many families, whilst 
others have been entirely ruined whole districts of county have been depopulated and 
many valuable farms shortly destroyed_  Many of these our unfortunate fellow citizens 
are now wandering about without a home to go to or a roof to shelter them from the 
pitiless Storms_  And whereas the best light in which the Calamities are viewed by the 
enlightened humane government of the United States, has been conspicuously manifested, 
by their liberal arbitrations in favor of the Sufferers at Carracas; This General 
Assembly can not therefore Doubt but what it could be equally ready to extend relief to 
a portion of its own Citizens, under Similar Circumstances_  Be it therefore resolved by 
the General Assembly for the Territory of Missouri, that they do recommend the 
inhabitants of the Said County of New Madrid, who have thus suffered, to the 
consideration .of the National Legislature, and that in the opinion of these Said 
general assembly provisions ought to be made by law, for granting to the said 
Inhabitants, relief, either out of the public land, or in such other ways as may seem 
meet to the wisdom & liberality of the general government.

St. Louis, January 12th 1814
William Clark
Governor for the Missouri Territory

Geo Bullitt
Speaker of the House of Representatives

S. Hammond 
President of the Legislative Council