Introduction to the Study of International Law: Designed as an Aid in Teaching, and in Historical Studies (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from Introduction to the Study of International Law: Designed as an Aid in Teaching, and in Historical StudiesNations or organized communities of men differ from the individual men of a state, in that they are self-governed, that no law is imposed on them by any external human power, but they retain the moral accountable nature, which must govern the members Ofa single society. They cannot have intercourse with one another without feeling that each party has rights and Obligations. They have, as states, a common nature and destination, whence an equality of rights arises. And hence proceeds the possibility Of a law between nations which is just, as expressing reciprocal rights and Obligations, or just as ex pressing a free waiver of the rights which are by all acknowl edged, and which may also embody by mutual agreement rules defining their more obvious claims and duties, or aiming to secure their common convenience and welfare. (comp. 27) This law of intercourse between nations has been united with political law, or the doctrine concerning the constitution of the state and the relations of the government to the people under the head of public law, as opposed to private, or to the system of laws within the state, by which the relations of its individual members are defined and protectedfi And yet there is a branch of this law which has both a private and a public character, - private as relating to persons, and public agreed upon between nations. This law is now extensively called international law.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comThis book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.