Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1833-10-31
"THE OLD ROMAN"
A SCRAP FROM HISTORY.

ca as the property Oh the RepublIc, and
were a sacred trust in the hands Of
Treasurer. In all the convulsions and
changes which Rome had undergone.
this sacred depoSite had been respected,
not merely from superstitious vene.
ration Of the Pagan gods, nor from |
slavish fear of Divine retribution; bu, |
from a sense ofwhat was due to coun.
try, to honesty, to just love Of never.
dying fame. 1t was this that made
Pompey leave them untouched, when
he withdrew from The City in company
with the "Conscrpt Fathers" and "all |
the true patriots Of the Republic"
1t was this same treasure upon which
Caesar laid violent hands, notwithstand
ing the remonstrances of Metelus, tho |
Roman Secretary Of the Treasury, who
was their lawful guardian.
But we will quote, as we find i. in
the 9th volume Of MAYORS History, al |
the Odd and oath pages, the notice Of
this transaction. 1t is not little re-
markabIo how strikingly coincidel.
are the ''redSonS" which influence des. /
pots in all ages, and how very like are
the 'pretenceS" they urge for justifyng
usurpation. The italics below are OUT |
own.-Le1ingtoa Int.
Caesar, finding he could not pursue
Pompey for want of shipping, resolved
to go back from Brundusium to Rome
and take possession Of the public trea.
sures, which his opponent, by a most
unaccountable oversight, had neglected
taking with him. Caesar was received
at Rome with the repeated accama.
tons of the louer class of the citizens,
and by all his ocn party; those of tho
Senate also who were attached to bis
interests, assembled to congratulate
him on his arrival, to whom he made
pl usjbie speech, justifying his conduct,
and protesting his aversion for the VIC.
lent measures he had been compelled
to adopt. Then, under a pretence
that his cause was that of justice and
the commonwealth, he prepared to pos.
sess himself of those treasures which
had been laid up for the use of the pub.
lie. But upon his coming to the door
Of the treasury, Metellus, the tribune,
who guarded it, refused to let him pass,
alleging that the money was sacred,
and that horrible imprecations had
been denounced against such as touch.
ed it upon any occasion but that OF
Gallo war. Caesar, however, was
not of disposition to be intimidatedby
superstition, and observed that there
was no occasion for money to carry on
a Gallo war, as he had entirely sub.
dued Gaul already. The tribune,
however, still persisted, and started
new difficulties; till Caesar, with moro
than usual emotion, laying his hand
upon his sword, threatened to strike
him dead. "And know, young man.
cried he, "that it is easier to do tho
than to say it," This menace had is
effect; Metellus retired, and Caesar pill.
LACED the treasury to the amount OF
three thousand pounds weight of golc.
besides an immense quantity ofsilver.
The Grand Lodge Of Vermont has
dissolved all the charters of the Lodges
in that State, and recommended tho
sale of all the furniture, jewels, &C.,
the amount Of which it is suggested
should 90 to the common school fund.
The Presidency of the United States
is exhibiting itself as the great master
agent of the Constitution, threatening
to devour that very Constitution from
which the office is derived. 1t can.
not be too closely investigated.
Gin. GGx.
The Crops.-The Georgetown $.
c. Union of the 10th inst. says: owe
congratulate our friends, the Planters,
upon the successful harvesting of their
crops. No season could be more pro-
pitous to the consummation OF then
labours; and although from the hea,
and dryness, generally accompanies
during the season of harvesting with
more or less sickness, we have heard
of very little ailment among the ne
groes. Indeed, to the Farmer, this 10
an era of rejoicing; with him the pros
pect begins to brighten and we trust no
is destined to see again those good old
times, when a rich reward awaited tho
soils of the year"