Page:Roman Constitutional History, 753-44 B.C..djvu/275

Rh, and took possession of certain public funds (aerarium sanctius) by means of force. This proceeding displeased the urban multitude, but otherwise his clemency and moderation in the conduct of the war conciliated many of the neutrals and even of the Pompeians.

The First Dictatorship of Caesar. — While in 49 Caesar was conquering the Pompeians in Spain, the administration of the city affairs was intrusted to the praetor M. Aemilius Lepidus, son of the consul of 78. When the victory of Caesar was reported, Lepidus secured the passage of a law which authorized him to appoint Caesar dictator — a proceeding for which the election of Q. Fabius Maximus in 217 and Sulla's appointment by an interrex might serve as precedents. Caesar entered on the office on his return to Rome in November, 49. Contrary to custom, he did not appoint a master of horse, but he occupied the office only for eleven days. He held the consular election and was elected himself, together with P. Servilius Vatia Isauricus. Even at this critical time he did not yield to the old democratic demand for the remission of all debts (novae tabulae, pp. 228, 230), but he carried a law providing that, in accordance with the enactment of 342 against interest, sums paid in interest should be deducted from the principal and the interest in arrears should be canceled; further, the creditors were to receive in payment the property of their debtors at its estimated value before the war. By the provision respecting interest alone the creditors lost about twenty-five per cent of the principal. Perhaps Caesar also established the great legal principle that by surrendering all his property a debtor saved his person and remained free, whether his assets sufficed to meet his obligations or not. This principle is the basis of modern legislation in regard to bankruptcy.

He also caused some of those condemned under the Pompeian law respecting electoral corruption, and others, to be