Page:Roman Constitutional History, 753-44 B.C..djvu/261

Rh match for Caesar, he could not stay so far away as in Spain.

The Political Campaign of 54. — The political campaign in 54 surpassed all precedent in corruption. Probably this was in part due to the influence of Caesar. One incident illustrates the condition of the times. In return for the support of the consuls, Caesar's candidate for the consulship and his chief competitor entered into a written contract in all due form as follows: if the consuls should not be able to secure the passage of the formal law conferring supreme authority (lex curiata) on themselves, and of a senatorial decree providing for the equipment of their consular provinces, these candidates agreed, when elected, to prove by the perjury of three augurs and two ex-consuls that the law and the decree had been passed. One object of this agreement seems to have been to fetter one of the consuls and prevent him from taking any step against Caesar.

Prosecution of Vatinius and Gabinius. — About this time Cicero, who had been courteously treated by Caesar, was induced to defend Caesar's henchman, P. Vatinius, against a charge of illegal canvassing. The verdict was acquittal.

Toward the end of the year A. Gabinius was prosecuted. As governor of Syria he had, in accordance with the wishes of Pompeius, restored Ptolemaeus Auletes to his throne for the consideration of some $13,200,000, and left a Roman garrison for the king's protection. Cicero, who had become one of the lieutenants of Pompeius, was prevailed upon to defend this tool of the triumvirs also. But in spite of Cicero's defense and the support of Pompeius and Caesar, and notwithstanding the fact that a Clodian law had authorized him to wage war outside his province, Gabinius was in the end sentenced to pay an indemnity of $13,200,000, and went into exile. Thus Pompeius lost