Page:Roman Constitutional History, 753-44 B.C..djvu/253

Rh II. The Rule of the Triumvirate.

The Chief Laws of Clodius. — P. Clodius Pulcher, whom Caesar had helped to secure adoption into a plebeian family, was elected tribune for 58. He was a talented, but morally and politically unprincipled, demagogue, and was selected by the triumvirate to lead in the attack on the oligarchy and its leaders. On entering office he published, and soon carried, four laws to prepare the way. The first enacted that the monthly allowance of grain should be given away for nothing. This was a very popular measure, and according to a subsequent enactment all the poor citizens were entitled to share in the distribution. The second law increased the number of days on which bills could be voted upon, and in particular abolished the religious veto (obnuntiatio, p. 141). A third law reëstablished the religious, or rather political, clubs (collegia), which had been prohibited by the senate. By this and the first law Clodius practically provided for the sustenance and discipline of the city rabble. The fourth law decreed that the censors should not omit any one from the senatorial roll, or degrade any one, without a formal trial and a unanimous sentence. This limitation tended to destroy the censorship, which was already falling into disuse; but the law was soon repealed.

Banishment of Cicero. — Clodius was now prepared to rid the triumvirate of Cicero and Cato, who were the chief men of the oligarchy, the former on account of his eloquence, the latter on account of his integrity and sturdy republicanism. Caesar had sought to win Cicero and had in vain offered him the position of agrarian commissioner, of ambassador, and of lieutenant (legatus). Clodius, who was Cicero's bitter enemy, was then given the congenial task of disposing of him. It is noteworthy that he did not prosecute Cicero