Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-09-06
Catalina and Breckenridge.

rs If they might have been aimed
at John c. Breckenridge, by some elo-
quent senator during the last session
of Congress. Senator Baker should
have read them to the traitor in the
Senate house:
How far, o Cataline wilt thou abuse
our patience? x * * ART thou
nothing daunted 10y the nocturnal watch
posted to secure Palladium? nothing by
the city guards ? nothing by tho con-
sternatlon of the people? nothing by
the union If all the wise and worthy
citizens nothing by the Senate as
sembling in the pace Of strength: no
thing by the looks and countenances of
all here p,esenJ? Seest thou not that
all thy designs are brought to light !?
that the Senators are thoroughly ap-
prlsed Of this conspiracy? alas, fer
our degeneracy! Alas, for the deprav-
ity Of the times The Senate IS ap
prised Of all this !; tie Consul beholds
it; yet the traitor lives. Lives, did
say p? Lie even comes into tie Senate !;
he shares in the public deliberations. X
* X Could that illustrous citizen
Paulius Scipio, Sovereign Pontiff, but
invested withno public maglstracy, kill
Tlberius Grachus for raising some
slight connections in the commonwealth;
and shall we Consuls suffer Cataline to
live, who aims laying waste the world
with fire and sword omit as too re-
mote, the example of O. Serv,liuO Aha
la, who with his own hand slew Spurius
Millius for plotting revolution in the
State, Such, such was the virtue of
this republic in former times, that her
brave sons punished more severely a
factious citizen than the most inveter-
ate public enemy. A decree once pass
ed in the Senate enjoining the the Con
sui l.. Optimus to take care that the
commonwealth received no detriment
The very same day Caius Gracious was
killed for somc slight suspicious OF
treason, though descended of father,
grandfather and ancestors all eminent
for their services to the State. * *
A camp is formed in Italy, on the
very borders Of Ltruria, against the
Commonwealth. The enemy increase
daily in numLer. At the same time
we behold their General and leader
within cur walls; nay in the Senate
House itself, plotting daily some in
testlne mischief against the State.
4 x 4 X X
Immortal gods !! what country do we
iuhabit ? what city do VIC belong to
what Government do we live under..
Here, here consc.ipt fathers, within
hcse walls and in this assembly, the
most awful and venerable on earth,
there are meu Who mediate my ruin
and yours, thu destruction Of this city
AID consequently Of the world it elf
And now, Conscri pit fathers, that
may obyiate and remove complain,
which my country might, with some ap.
pea ance Of justice, urge against me.
attend diligently to what am about te
say, and Treasure it up in your minds
and hearts for should my country
which to me IS much dearer than life
should all tia! y, should the whole State
thus accost me: "N hat are you
about, Marcus Tull.us? Will you suf,
fer man to escape out of Rome whom
you have discovered to be public Ell
envy whom you see ready to enter OF
war against the State whose arriva
the conspirators wait with impatience
that they may put themselves under his
conduct? the prime author of the
:. treason the contfivei and manager Of
the revolt? the man who enlists ell The
slaves and ruined citizens he can find
will you suffer him to escape as One
rather sent against the city than driver
from it? i
Do the laws relating to the punishment
of Roman citizens hold you in awe
Certainly traitors against their country
can have no claim to the privilege of
citizens. Are you afraid Of the re.
proaches of posterity ? *
When Italy shall be laid desolato with
war, her cities pundered, her dwell
ings on fine, can you then hope to es-
cape the flames Of public Indignation
X * Now, am persuaded that
when he (Cataline) is once gone into
Manlius' camp, whittier he actually de-
signs to SO, none can be SO sill as not
to see thar there is plot meme so wick
edas not to acknowledge it; but when he
has thrown himself into rebellion and
carried OUT his friends along with him,
and drawn together the proHigatc and
desperate from all parts Of the empire,
not only this ripened plague of the Re-
public, but the very root and,seed of
all our evils will be extirpated with him
at once.
I'upEs WuOITHI!Tc This would In n