This argument was compelling enough that American officials took it seriously as a threat — not because they agreed with it, but because they understood that if the argument gained traction, it could undermine the legal foundation of their land acquisition system.

Harrison’s response to the argument was not philosophical but practical: the United States does not recognize this principle, the treaties are valid under American law, and the land belongs to the United States.

This response won the argument in the short run.

The question of whose political and philosophical framework should govern the land was ultimately settled by military force, as Tecumseh had always understood it might be.

The Oratory: Why His Voice Was His Most Powerful Weapon