Page:Roman Constitutional History, 753-44 B.C..djvu/268

 264 CIVIL WAR AND END OF REPUBLIC. since they left office in the city. This arrangement was no doubt intended to give Pompeius a free hand in filling provincial governorships, and made it possible to super- sede Caesar on March 1, 49, — contrary to the former prac- tice and the understanding at Luca. Pompeius caused the senate to confirm the decree, and probably in 51 the prin- ciple was established by law. In the next place Pompeius carried a law in regard to magistrates, which prohibited the candidacy of absent per- sons. When notified that Caesar would be excluded, he added a clause which should exempt Caesar ; but this was merely his personal explanation and of no legal force. Pompeius, therefore, first agreed to Caesar's candidacy and allowed it to be legalized (pp. 252-253), then made it illegal, and next apparently canceled his own provision. Provincial Term of Pompeius Extended. — While Pompeius was trying to undermine the position of Caesar, he strength- ened his own. He secured the election of his father-in-law to the consulship. He caused his own term as governor of the two Spanish provinces to be prolonged for another five years, and induced the senate to appropriate an annual sum of about $1,320,000 for the payment of his soldiers. He could now retain his legions and provinces longer than Caesar. It was, however, sufficiently naive to sup- pose that, although Pompeius violated several of his own laws in letter or in spirit, Caesar, who had shown utter disregard for constitutional law and custom, would now be bound by legal formalities. Activity of Caesar. — Caesar could not interfere with the hostile measures at Bome, as the result of all his cam- paigns in Oaul was at stake in 52. He was able, however, to defeat the great mass of rebel troops, and obtained the surrender of Vercingetorix, their leader, and of Alesia,