HARRISON. Tecumseh's passion is a dangerous flood Which sweeps away his judgment. Let him lift His threatened axe to hit defenceless heads! It cannot mar the body of our right, Nor graze the even justice of our claim: These still would live, uncancelled by our death. Let reason rule us, in whose sober light We read those treaties which offend him thus: What nation was the first established here, Settled for centuries, with title sound? You know that people, the Miamies, well. Long ere the white man tripped his anchors cold, To cast them by the glowing western isles, They lived upon these lands in peace, and none Dared cavil at their claim. We bought from them, For such equivalent to largess joined, That every man was hampered with our goods, And stumbled on profusion. But give ear! Jealous lest aught might fail of honesty-- Lest one lean interest or poor shade of right Should point at us--we made the Kickapoo And Delaware the sharer of our gifts, And stretched the arms of bounty over heads Which held but by Miami sufferance. But, you! whence came you? and what rights have you? The Shawanoes are interlopers here-- Witness their name! mere wanderers from the South! Spurned thence by angry Creek and Yamasee-- Now here to stir up strife, and tempt the tribes To break the seals of faith. I am surprised That they should be so led, and more than grieved Tecumseh has such ingrates at his back. TECUMSEH. Call you those ingrates who but claim their own, And owe you nothing but revenge? Those men Are here to answer and confront your lies. [_Turning to his followers_.] Miami, Delaware and Kickapoo! Ye are alleged as signers of those deeds-- Those dark and treble treacheries of Fort Wayne.-- Ye chiefs whose cheeks are tanned with battle-smoke, Stand forward then, and answer if you did it! KICKAPOO CHIEF. (_Rising_.) Not I! I disavow them! They were made By village chiefs whose vanity o'ercame Their judgment, and their duty to our race. DELAWARE CHIEF. (_Rising_.) And I reject the treaties in the name Of all our noted braves and warriors. They have no weight save with the palsied heads Which dote on friendly compacts in the past. MIAMI CHIEF. (_Rising_.) And I renounce them also. They were signed By sottish braves--the Long-Knife's tavern-chiefs-- Who sell their honor like a pack of fur, Make favour with the pale-face for his fee, And caper with the hatchet for his sport. I am a chief by right of blood, and fling Your false and flimsy treaties in your face. I am my nation's head, and own but one As greater than myself, and he is here! [_Pointing to_ TECUMSEH.]