Page:Roman Constitutional History, 753-44 B.C..djvu/273

Rh pretext for beginning war. Before this he could plead as reasons only his personal safety, his just claim to a second consulship, and the protection of his adherents. All such arguments were utterly inadequate. But, as he had always been a democrat in name, he could now pose as the champion of tribunician inviolability and the right of intercession — in short, of democracy. To be sure, he had as consul ignored tribunician intercession, he had allowed his own adherents to violate tribunes with impunity in his own assembly, he had sent soldiers to carry the election of Pompeius and Crassus, and he was a monarchist; but of what avail are facts against the insidious charm of party phrases?

Beginning of the Civil War. — After the flight of Antony and Cassius, the senate confirmed the resolution (auctoritas) of January 1, decreed a general Italian levy, empowered Pompeius to dispose of the public funds, and selected the successors of Caesar and other provincial governors.

When Caesar heard of the decrees and the arrival of the tribunes at Ariminum, he addressed his soldiers especially in regard to the violence toward the tribunes, then crossed the Rubicon, which here bounded his province, and thereby began the war.

The Italian Campaign. — The advance of Caesar caused utter panic at Rome. Pompeius was given by the senate the supreme command in the war. He declared it necessary to leave the city, and affirmed that the senators and magistrates who might remain were public enemies and partisans of Caesar. Even the courts were closed. He departed, and the consuls followed in such haste as to leave the funds in the public treasury behind. After various attempts to negotiate with him had been made in vain, Pompeius, with the last division of his army, sailed from