Page:Roman Constitutional History, 753-44 B.C..djvu/260

246 of the election, their only competitor was deterred from his useless candidacy, because his torchbearer was killed and Cato was wounded. The two triumvirs were then elected by the help of soldiers, who according to agreement had come from Caesar's army in charge of the son of Crassus.

Second Consulship of Pompeius and Crassus. — Through extensive bribery and fraud, Pompeius and Crassus defeated Cato, who was a candidate for the praetorship, and secured the election of Vatinius and other henchmen of theirs. By a plebiscite, Pompeius obtained the two Spanish provinces and Crassus was given Syria for five years, with the authority to declare war. They next carried a law extending Caesar's governorship in the Gallic provinces and Illyricum for five years. This assignment of the chief provinces of the state was evidently incompatible with the existence of the republic.

By another law Pompeius raised the property qualifications of the third class of jurors and attempted to make the selection of the jury panel less arbitrary, perhaps in order to make the courts more subservient. Crassus carried a law against political clubs (lex Licinia de sodaliciis).

The opposition to the triumvirs continued, and was directed especially against their underlings, but was of small importance. The elections for 54 were only in part favorable to the triumvirs. Cato, for example, was chosen praetor.

Pompeius and Crassus were severe in drafting soldiers for their provinces. Contrary to custom, the latter left for Syria in November. On his departure he was duly devoted to the infernal gods by one of the tribunes. On the other hand, Pompeius, in violation of the law, remained outside of Rome after the expiration of his term, and governed his provinces through his two lieutenants, L. Afranius and M. Petreius. He probably understood that, to be a