In the American tribes there were generally two rulers—one for war, the other for pacific conditions. The latter was hereditary or elective from a limited number of families, but the former was chosen from the boldest, most skilful warriors, without other regard than to his efficiency. Sometimes two war-chiefs were selected, either that one might replace the other without delay in case of death, or that the one might serve as a check on the ambitious designs of the other (Iroquois). Traces of this sagacious plan are found in most parts of the continent.
effects of war on government reach their highest point in the establishment of military despotisms. These are far from being unmixed evils. On the contrary, they are better than a con dition of freedom where each clan acts independently of the others, and personal liberty has that wide signification which was the rule among the northern tribes of America. What men most need to learn is labor and obedience, and these can usually be taught them only by a tyranny. As the learned ethnologist Waitz observes, in many conditions of society it is of much less importance that the limits of the government be defined, or that its conduct be in accord with the precepts of justice, than that it be strong and stable. By these traits men are accustomed to obey the laws,
and to order their lives in accordance with a plan which embraces all the interests of the nation. The destructive consequences of exclusive self seeking and ill-founded ambition are checked, and, following the direction assigned by one mind, the full force of the nation makes itself felt in the conduct of great affairs.
Grozoth of International we may mention international law as largely an outgrowth of war. Negotiations for the exchange or redemption of captives and treaties to effect peace and adjust differences led to the establishment of modes of intercourse and usages between nations, and finally to mutual legislation. Indeed, the old term for what we now call international law was " the law of war and peace," jus bclli ,bacis, which sufficiently indicates its origin. Its initiatives are visible in the customs of savage nations, where it was very generally deemed an outrage to injure a messenger of peace, and symbols were recognized as indicating his character, as the calumet among the North American tribes.