Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1860-03-22

cultivation by slaves. furnishes the
student of history with the secret eaus-
es that undermined the empire and de-
stroyed it's liberties. / read from book
six. chapter seven, Of his history
of Rome. volume two. page 522:
From the earliest times of Rome.
1t had been the custom of the Romans.
when they subdued any of the nations
Of Italy. to deprive them Of part Of
their territory. \ portion OF these
lands was sold. and the rest given to
the poorer citizens. on conditions. says
Appian. of their paying annually
tenth Of the corn and fifth Of the
fruits Of trees. beside number Of great
and small cattle. In process Of time.
the rich. by various means. got pos
session of the lands destined for the
subsistence of the poor"
The rich and the mighty con-
trived to possess themselves of the
lands. of their poor neighbors. At first
they held these acquisitions under bor-
rowed names aferwsrd openly in
their own. To cultivate the farms.
they employed foreign slaves; SO that
Italy was in danger of losing its inhab-
itance of free condition (who had no
encouragement To marry and no means
to educate children, and OF being over
run with slaves and barbarians. that
had neither affection for the Republic
nor interest in her preservation.
"Iiberins Gracious. now Tribune
of the people. undertook to remedy
these disorders"
Never. says Plutarch, was proposed
law more mild and gentle against
iniquity and oppression; yet the rich
made a mighty clamor about the hard
ship of being stripped of their houses.
their lands. their inheritances, the
burial places of their ancestors -
= The poor. on the other hand
complained of the extreme indigence
to which they were reduced and OF
their inability to bring up children
They enumerated the many battles
where they had fought in defense OF
} the Republic, Notwithstanding which
they were allowed no share Of the
/ public lands nay. the usurpers, TO
, cultivate them. chose rather toemploy
foreigners and slaves than citizens of
{ Rome" Gracchus's view was not TO
< make poor men rich, but to strength
Ell the Republic by an increase Of use
] ful members, upon which he thought
{ the safety and welfare OF Italy depen-
. ded. The insurrection and war Of the
slaves in Cicily, who were not yet
E quelled, furnished him with sufficient
: argument for expatiating on the dan
, ger Of filling Italy with slaves.
"He asked the rich whether they
e preferred slave To citizen man
unqualified to serve in war to soldier:
e an alien to member OF tho Republic;
4 and which they thought would Lc
h more zealous for It's Interest =? Then,
: as to the misery Of the poor The
wild beasts Of Italy have caves aud
C dens TO shelter them: bat the people.
r who exposed their lives for the defense
II of Italy. are allowed nothing but the
: light and air they wander up and
n down with their wives and children.
II without house and without habitation.
!, Our generals mock the soldiers when
a in battle, they exhort them 10 fight
.e for their sepulchen and their house
J. hold god. for among al that great
, number OF Romans. there is not one
le who has either domestic. altar'r a
l. scpulcher Of his ancestors. They hight
r and die, solely to maintain the riches
- and luxury of others and are styled
v the lords Of the universe. while they
A. have not single foot Of ground in
If their possession.
e. Smith. in the second volume. page
291, of his Greek and Roman Bio
d. graphical Dictionary. speaking Of Ii
es berius Gracious. and the reasons fol
r. his proposed legislation says:
4, Ills brother Caius related. in some
= Of his works. that Tiberius. on hi
us march to Spain in (B. c. ls7. as h
rl was passing through Etruia. observe,
NJ with grief and Indignation the desert
- ed State Of that fertile country: thou
=. sands of foreign slaves in chains wer
:. employed in cultivating the land an,
Il. tending the fiocks upon the immens
estates Of the wealthy. while tine poor
=, or classes of Roman citizens. who wer
a.. thus thrown ont Of employment. hs
=. scarcely their daily bread. or . cloi q
in earth to call their own. He Is said {
nd have been reused through that circum
ile stance to exert himself in enieayorin
aa- to remedy this evil"
Had the policy apvocated BY Gra'
m. chus. OF distributing the public Land
tn among the landless citizens OF the n.