The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1845-06-26
PUBLISHED BY REQUEST.
From the Louisville Journal Of December
18Th, 1887.

From the louisville Journal Of December
18Th, 1887.
PONTIUS PLATE AT VIENNE.
Translated and abridged from the "COm.
ricr deS EtatS Unis."
Vienne in Dauphiny, a province of France.
the ancient capital Of transalpine Gaul under
the Romans, is situated on the river Rhone
There, on the left bank OF that beautiful
stream, is seen a tomb of an ancient archi.
lecture, which, according TO tradition, is the
tomb of Pontius Pilate-Pilate, under whose
government Jesus Christ suffered. Passus
est sub Pontio plato. Ii was in Vienne al
SO that the Wandering Jew revealed himself
in l777--a most remarkable occurrence, the
spot that contained the ashes of the Judge oil
The Righteous, was 10 be trodden upon by a
descendant of his accuser.
The following chronicle was extracted
rom an old Latin manuscript found in a
monastery near Vienne.
1t was under the reign of Caligula, when
c. Marcus was pIetor at Vienne, that an old
man, bent with age, yet of a tall stature, was
seen 10 descend from bis litter and enter a
house of modest appearance nearthe temple
of Mars. Over the door of this house was
written, in red letters, the name of F. Abb
nus. He was an old acquaintance Of Pilates
After mutual salutations, Albinus observed
10 him, that many years had elapsed since
their separation. "Yes," replied PilaIe,
'many yeaTs-year of misfortune and Attic
ton. Accused be the day on which | sue
ceeded Valerius Gratus III the government
of Judea! Ny name is ominous; il has been
fatal 10 whOmSOeFUT bus 5vrn~ -O-f
my ancestors imprinted an indelIble mark OF
iufamy on the fai' font of Imperial Rome,
when the Romans passed under the Candi-
ne Ferculg in the Samnite war. Another
persisted by the hands of the Parthians in the
war against Arminius. And miserable
mel
ssYou miserable ?' asked Albinus; what
= have you done TO entail misery on you?-
True, the Injustice Of Caligula has exiled you
10 Vienne, but for what crime? | have ex-
amined your affair at the Tabularium. You
are denounced by Vitellus, project of Syria
your enemy, for having chastised the rebel
lious Hebrews, who had slain the mostnoblt
of the Samaritans, and who afterwards with
drew themselves on Mount Garizlm. YoI
are also accused of acting thus out Of hatre'
against the Jews"
"Non replied Plate, "No! by all tn
gods, Albinus, it is not the injustice of Ca
sar that aff1icts me-"
"What then is the cause ofyoura affection?
continued Albinus. "Long have | know
you-sensible, Just, humane. Iseeit;-yo
are the victim Of Vitellus."
eSay not so, Albinus-Say not that al
the victim Of Vitellus-No: | am the victil
ofa Higher Power! The Romans regard IN
as an object of Caesars disgrace; the Jew
as the severe Proconsul; the christians,
the executioner Of their God!!"
"Of their God, did you say, Pilate?-ir
pious wretches! Adore a God born In
manger, and put TO death on The cross"
"Beware, Albinus, bewarem! continue
Plate. "If the Christ had been born und
the purple, he would not have been adore
Listen. To your friendship will submit IL
events of my life; you will afterwards jude
whether | am worthy of your hospitality"
On my arrival at jerusalem, | took posse
sion of the Pretorium, and ordered a sple
did feast to be prepared, 10 which | invite
the Tetrarch of Judea, with the high prie
and his officers. At the appointed hour,
guest appeared. This was an insult offer
to my dignity. A few days afterwards,
Telrarch deigned TO pay me a visit. His
pertinent was grave and deceitful. He
tended that his religion forbade him and
attendants 10 sit down al the table OF
Gentiles, and TO offer up libations with the
/ thought it expedient TO accept of his
cuse; but from that moment was convinc
that the conquered had declared themselV
the enemies of the conquerors.
At that time, Jerusalem was, of all c.
uuered cities, the most difficult TO govern
So turbulent were the people, that lived
momentary dread of an instruction. To
press it, | had but a single Centurion, an
handful of soldiers. requested a reIntoT
ment from the Project of Syria. who INTO
ed me that he had scarcely troops sutncl
to defend his own province. lnsatiate tn
of empire!-io extend our conquests hey
the means of defending them!
Among the various rumors which came
my ears, there was one that attracted my
tention. A young man, it was said, had
peared in Gallilee preaching with a noble I
ton. a new law in the name of the God
had sent him. At first, | was apprehen
that his design was to stir up the peoPl