The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer., 1863-07-24
BEL AIR. MD, FRIDAY MORNING,

line soldlers regarded Aureilan Almost
with alteration, and were determined that
none implicated in his death should gain
the crown. They sent deputatioh to
Rome requesting that Aurelian should be
placed in the number of the Gods. Their
COMMUNICATION to the senate, which was
characteristic of the times was in the fol-
lowing words "'.''" +a.
"THE BRAVE AND FoTUNATE ARMIES
TO THE SENATE AND PEOPLE OF ROME.
The crime of one man and the error Of
many, have deprived us of the late empe-
ror Aurelian. May it please you, venera-
BILE lords and fathers, to place him in the
number Of the Gods, and to appoint sue
cessor whom your judgment shall de-
clare worthy of the imperial purple. -
None of those whose guilt or misfortune
has contributed to our loss shall ever reign
over u.s." 8a @ - @ o.
The senate Received this respectful ad-
dress with amazement. 1t was long since
the army had approached them in terms
so deferential. But there was no member
of tho senate who was willing to accept the
perilous gift of the crown. Three times
the senate returned this answer to the ar
my, urging, in consequence, that the mil
itary order should choose the sovereign.
Three times the army, as if satiated with
military rulers, conjured the senate to
place one of its own number on the
throne. Thus there was an interregnum
of eight months. And yet, strange as it
may seem, during all this time that Rome
was without a sovereign, the affairs of the
empire, under the efficient generals and
magistrates whom Aurelian had appoin-
ted, moved on harmoniously. During all
this time the legions whom Aurelian was
leading to the East, remained encamped
on the shores Of the Bosphorus.
But manifestly affairs could not long
remain in this condition. Intelligence
was brought to Rome that new flood of
barbarians had audaciously swept across
the Rhine, and were ravaging Gaul. The
Persian monarch, also, emboldened by the
absence of the Roman armies, was devas-
tating the Eastern provinces. Decisive
action became imperative, There was at
that time in Rome a venerable senator,
seventy-6ve years Of age, by the name of
Tacitus. His rank, public services and
virtues had secured for him universal re-
spect He was descendant Of the re-
nowned, historian whose fame has filled
the literary world The voice of the peo-
pie began to call loudly for Tacitus to as.
sumo the imperial purple. Alarmed at
proposition which he regarded as his
death warrant, he fed from Rome, and
secluded himself in the retirement of his
villa iu, the country, The senate sum-
moned him to attend session. He was
constrained to obey. AS the worthy old
man entered he was almost struck dumb
with dismay, for the whole senate rose to
their feet, and, with almost universal ac-
claim, greeted him as Taoitus Augustus -
He demonstrated passionately. u
care these in6rm limbs" said he gift
ted to sustain the weight Of armor, or to
practice the exercises of the camp? My
exhausted strength scarcely. enables me to
discharge the duties of a senator. Can
you hope that the legions will respect a
weak old man, whose days have been spent
in the shades of peace aud retirement
Can you desire that | should ever find
reason to regret the favorable opinion Of
the senate !'' ......e- .u. ...
It's hardly possible to doubt that Taci-
tus was sincere in these remonstrances.--
They proved unavailing The country
was in peril, The army demanded the
Immediate. presence of leader ri The
Senate was infexible. Tacitus, finding
further resistance useless, submitted to his
fate. The crown was placed upon his
brow. The imperial robe was spread over
his shoulders, The ,sceptre was eomnit-
ted to his hands, He fastened to Me
Bosphorus. With all the vigor of'a
youthful general he put his troops in mo-
tion % assah the invaders on the distant
plains Of Mesopotamia. Every act of his
administration, was marked with wisdom
and energy and elemency. But his ca
reer was brief. He met the fate he had
anticipated. His mild and amiable char
acter inspired the soldiers with contempt.
Factions rose in the camp. Before he ar
rived at the Epphrates,, and 10 less than
seven months after his investment with
the purple, a matiny broke out, aud Taci-.
| tus was slain. - W t,,a5siS t5 slgps3
The army, accustomed to snch spectg-i
Giles looked quietly On, as the assassins
wiped their bloody daggers. Deeming it.
| Iinexpedient from that distance tomake an.t
other application, to the Seuate, they
| chose one Of their gelerals, Probus, en-