[Exeunt with military music.]
SCENE FOURTH.—FORT DETROIT.—THE AMERICAN CAMP.
Enter GENERAL HULL, COLONEL CASS and other Officers.
CASS. Come, General, we must insist on reasons!
Your order to withdraw from Canada
Will blow to mutiny, and put to shame
That proclamation which I wrote for you,
Wherein 'tis proudly said, "We are prepared
To look down opposition, our strong force
But vanguard of a mightier still to come!"
And men have been attracted to our cause
Who now will curse us for this breach of faith.
Consider, sir, again!
HULL. I am not bound
To tack my reasons to my orders; this
Is my full warrant and authority—
[Pointing to his Instructions.]
Yet, I have ample grounds for what I do.
CASS. What are they, then?
HULL. First, that this proclamation
Meets not with due response, wins to our side
The thief and refugee, not honest men.
These plainly rally round their government.
1ST OFFICER. Why, yes; there's something lacking in this people, If we must conquer them to set them free.