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 please the Supreme
being of the universe, to visit the Inhabitants of this earth, there are none more truly
[paper missing-awful?] and destructive than Earthquakes-Man's wisdom can not foresee nor
[paper gone-take?] 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
impress us with awe, and to [ignite?] our astonishment at their terrible effects. As members
of the great human family, our deepest [consideration or commiseration] should not fail to be
[excited?] and our hearts expanded with charity for the relief of those whose 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 calamities of this kind, which have deluged large portions of their country and
involved in the greatest distress, many families, whilst others ha[paper missing-have?] been
entirely ruined, whole districts of country have been  [missing paper-inundated?] and many
valuable farms thereby destroyed-many of these our unfortunate fellow (sic) citizens are now
wandering about without a home to go [missing-to or a?] roof to shelter them from the [can't
read] storms. -And whereas the [can't read] light in which [can't read] calamities are
received [?] by the enlightened humane government of the United States, has been conspicuously
manifested by their liberal [can't read] in favor [?] of the effort [?] at Carracas {?], This
General Assembly can we therefore doubt [?] but what 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 [can't read] 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 granting to the said Inhabitants relief either out of the public land or in [can't
read-such?] other way as may [can't read-appeal?] to the wisdom and liberality of the general
government.

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

Geo. Bullitt
Speaker of the House of Representatives

S. Hammond
President of the Legislative Council