SIGNING.—­The enrolled bill is signed by the presiding officer of each house, and, if he approves it, by the executive.

DISPOSITION.—­The bill is then carried by the executive to the secretary of state, who deposits it among the archives.  Copies are made for publication. [Footnote:  Read Among the Lawmakers, pp. 60-64.]

APPENDIX D.—­SOME PRINCIPLES OF INTERNATIONAL LAW.

Nature and Origin.—­A savage meeting in the forest a person whom he has never seen before is apt to look upon him as a foe.  As civilization increases, danger to one’s personal rights decreases, and stranger ceases to mean enemy.  It has gradually come about that the confidence and courtesy shown to one another by men in their individual relations have extended to the relations of states.  Morality, reason, and custom have established among the nations certain rules of conduct with respect to one another.  The rules constitute what is called international law.

As might be guessed, international law is a matter of comparatively recent origin, and exists only among the most highly civilized nations.  Not being the enactment of any general legislative body, having no courts competent to pass upon it nor executive to enforce its provisions, this law must be framed by agreement, and its carrying out must rest upon national good faith.

PEACE RELATIONS.

The great purpose of international law being to preserve peace by removing the causes of war, we shall first consider some of the arrangements operative in times of peace.

Non-interference.—­Among individuals it is found that, as a rule, it is best for each person to mind his own business.  Similarly, among nations non-interference by one with the internal affairs of another is a cardinal principle.  It is, therefore, a general rule that a people may adopt such form of government as they choose, and that whenever they wish they may amend or entirely alter it. [Footnote:  A change in the form of government does not release the nation from prior obligations.] And the government formed has a right to operate without dictation from other powers.  Nor has any foreign nation a right to inquire how the government has come into being; sufficient that it is the government.

This right of a nation to manage its own affairs is called sovereignty.  It belongs to a small independent nation as completely as to a large one.  The act of one government in acknowledging the validity and sovereignty of another is called recognizing it. (See page 349, last paragraph.)