December 12 1792 Proclamation Against Crimes Against Cherokee

### About this speech George Washington December 12, 1792 Source Miller Center Offering a reward for the capture of American citizens who attacked a Cherokee town, Washington urges American citizens to maintain the peace and the good faith of the United States. [Presidential Speeches](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches) | George Washington Presidency ## December 12, 1792: Proclamation Against Crimes Against the Cherokee Nations ### Transcript Whereas I have received authentic information, that certain lawless and wicked persons, of the western frontier in the State of Georgia, did lately invade, burn, and destroy a town belonging to the Cherokee nation, although in amity with the United States, and put to death several Indians of that nation; and whereas such outrageous conduct not only violates the rights of humanity, but also endangers the public peace, and it highly becomes the honor and good faith of the United States to pursue all legal means for the punishment of those atrocious offenders; I have, therefore, thought fit to issue this my proclamation, hereby exhorting all the citizens of the United States, and requiring all the officers thereof, according to their respective stations, to use their utmost endeavours to bring those offenders to justice. And I do moreover offer a reward of five hundred dollars for each and every of the above-named persons, who shall be so apprehended and brought to justice, and shall be proved to have assumed or exercised any command or 
authority among the perpetrators of the crimes aforesaid, at the time of committing the same. Previous [November 6, 1792: Fourth Annual Message to Congress](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/november-6-1792-fourth-annual-message-congress) Next [March 4, 1793: Second Inaugural Address](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/march-4-1793-second-inaugural-address) ### More George Washington speeches [View all George Washington speeches](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches?field_president_target_id\[44\]=44) [March 4, 1793: Second Inaugural Address](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/march-4-1793-second-inaugural-address) transcript icon [April 22, 1793: Proclamation of Neutrality](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/april-22-1793-proclamation-neutrality) transcript icon [December 3, 1793: Fifth Annual Message to Congress](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/december-3-1793-fifth-annual-message-congress) transcript icon [August 7, 1794: Proclamation against Opposition to Execution of Laws and Excise Duties in Western Pennsylvania](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/august-7-1794-proclamation-against-opposition-execution-laws) transcript icon [September 25, 1794: Proclamation of Militia Service](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/september-25-1794-proclamation-militia-service) transcript icon [November 19, 1794: Sixth Annual Message to Congress](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/november-19-1794-sixth-annual-message-congress) transcript icon [July 10, 1795: P
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