A resolution for the inhabitants of the County of New Madrid

Whereas the Catalogue of miseries and afflictions, with which it has 
pleased the Supreme Being of the Universe to visit the inhabitants of 
the earth there are none more truly awful and destructive than 
Earthquakes. Mans wisdom can not foresee, nor for precaution guard 
against them. In whatever sections of the habitable world, this wreck of
matter, these convulsions of nature, they do not fail profoundly to 
impress us with awe and excite our testimonials at their terrible 
effects. As members of the great human family, our deepest 
commiserations should not fail to be exacted, and out hearts expanded 
with charity of those whole lives 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 calamities of this 
kind, which have deluged large portions of their country and involved in
the greatest distress many families, whilst others have been entirely 
ruined. Whole districts of country  have been entirely devastated and 
many valuable farms shortly destroyed. Many of these - our fellow 
unfortunate 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 
lights in which the calamities are viewed  by the enlightened humane 
Government of the United States has been conspicuously manifested by the
liberal articulations in fact of the suffering at (Curacao?), this 
General Assembly can not therefore doubt but that it will 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 the said General
Assembly provisions ought to be made by law for or cashiered to the said
inhabitants relief, either out of the public fund or in some other way 
as may can meet to the cost demand availability of the General 
Government.

St. Louis, Jan 13th 1814

(William Clark)

(Governor of the Missouri Territory)