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 hath pleased the supreme
being of the universe, to visit the inhabitants of this earth, there are none more
truly awful (?) and destructive than Earthquakes-mans wisdom cannot foresee nor his
precaution guard against them. For whatever (?) sections the habitable world, this wreck of
matter, these convulsions of nature occur, they do not fail profoundly to impress us with awe,
and to ignite our astonishment at their terrible effects. As members of the great human
family, our deepest commiseration should not fail to be elicited, and our hearts expanded with
charity for the relief of those whose lives ? saved from the general wreck- We ought never to
forget that what was their fate yesterday, may be ours tomorrow-and whereas  notorious to this
general assembly, that the inhabitants of the late  ? 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 annihilated and many
valuable farms ? destroyed. Many of these our unfortunate fellow citizens are now wandering
about without a home to g? to shelter them from the pitiless storms-and whereas the best light
in which calamities are viewed by the enlightened humane government of the United States, has
been conspicuously manifested by their liberal ? in favor ? at ? this general Assembly can not
therefore doubt but what it will be equally ready to extend relief to a portion of itthat 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 granting to the said inhabitants, relief,
either out of the public fund? Or which other was as may seem meet to the wisdom  & ? of the
general Government.