The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1869-07-02

the humiliating subsection of their
predecessors.
The Seipios and the Catos had
been reduced 60 low as to solicit the
votes of Plcbians, and yet were re-
served for an age among rulers in
which the rewards Of virtue were
assigned by the Emperor whose sole
fiat had given them the Offices they
respectively held. Their inaugu-
ration ceremony was performed
with due solcmnity at the Imperial
Palace and the consuls invested
with the ensigns Of their dignity,
on the morning of the LIST of Janu-
airy. They were arraycd in purple,
embroidered in silk and gold, or
namented with costly diamonds,
and attended by eminent officials
civil and military. they moved in
grand procession from the palace to
the forum or principal square of the
city where ascending tho tribunal
they seated themselves in curule
chairs known to and used by Roman
officers in ancient times.
To inspire tho people with con-
fidense they assumed jurisdiction
and Immediately manumittcd q
Save, brought before them for that
purpose. intending by the ceremony
to represent the action Of the elder
Brutus the author Of Roman liberty
and Of tho consulship. in admitting
among his fellow citizens the faith
full Vindex, who revealed the conspi-
racy Of the Tarquins.
The PrNtorian Projects were in
vested with civil and military ad-
ministration, while the old Romans
whose craftsmanship had made Rome
its greatness saw their ancient
greatness evaporate in vain civil
titles. From the reign o; Severus
to that Of Dioclesian, the guards,
the palace, the finances, tho armies
and the provinces were all under
the control of the Pr@fects, who
like the famed Viziers Of the East
held the seal of Empire in one
hand its standard in the other.
Their ambition was as often fatal
to the rulers who had given them
their Offices ~ to the people who
had ostensibly given them an cleo.
ton. The real interest of all class
es were sacrificed without the least
compulsion if their own ambition
would be fostered.
BY q singular revolution these
naughty rulers we're transformed
from Captains Of the guards into
the civil magistrates Of the Prov
inces. The civil functions they
were ordained to exercise over so
many conquered and subject nations
were adequate in a measure to ap-
pease the surrender of their militia
ry power.
As tho immediate representative
Of Imperial authority they were au-
thorizcd to cxpound and enforce the
edicts of the Emperor, their unrcs-
trained prociamations being the ju-
dicial Interpretation of the Imperi-
al edicts. Whatever could interest
tho public prosperity or control
popular opinion was committed to
their discretion. They watched
over the conduct of the people !;
punished the refractory members of
provincial authority had civil ju-
risdiction in every civil or criminal
matter; their sentence was final ;
the Emperor refusing to admit any
doubts as to either the judgment or
integrity of magistrate thus hon
ored by his edicts. His power in
making subordinate appointments
vas as unlimited as his judicial pow
ers, and when avarice was his DOM
mating passion it was followed by
an abundant harvest of horses, hou-
ses, fees. spoons, homage and pups.
The Prafects of the Imperial PROV
inces were invested with the full
measure Of power possessed by the
Emperor !; were Ministers of peace
and war had the distribution of
rewards and the infection Of pun
ishments, and in the tribunals ap-
peared in the robes Of Magistracy.
and at the head of the Roman le-
gions in full armor. To disarm
these formidable servants and Sc
cure the throne from the dan
gers of sedition, Constantine diyid-
ed the civil and military mower that