Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-07-11
a'1iseslIaaeons gsadias
BEACON LIGHTS OF HISTORY.
Examples of Human Virtue That hav
Made the World Better. Z.

| lUnder this heading from uIne W
time will be published a series Of au-
thenticated extracts dealing with his
torical examples Of the good and bad
in human nature, mostly good; but all
furnishing an admirable chart OF con-
duct to be emulated or avoided:
3s.. MAGISTRATE.
Examples. f.s-.H
The Judge in giving his suffrage
ought not to consider himself as alone,
nor that he is at liberty to pronounce
| according to his own inclinations, but
to represent to himself that he has
around him law, religion, equity, In
tegrity and fidelity, which form his
counsel, and ought to dictate his
words.
In the same manner as the people
are subservient to the magistrates
magistrates are sut'serWent to the
laws; and it may be truly said that
the magistrate Is a speaking law, ana
the law a mute magistrate.
Religion in magistrate strength
ems his authority because 1t procures
yeneration, and gains repute to It,;
and in all the AFFAIRS Of this world, SO
much reputation is, indeed. so much
power. aE
1t is not the place that makes the
person, but the person that makes
the place, honorable.
Examples.
Ry the taking of Syracuse, all Sicily
became a province Of the Roman en-
pire; and Sicily would have been hap
py in being governed by the Romans
IL they had always given her such
magistrates as Cicero. Knowing ike
him, in the obligations Of his func-
tions, and like him, intent upon the
due discharge of them. 1t is highly
pleasing to hear him explain him
self upon this subject.
After having invoked the gods as
witnesses of the sincerity Of what ne
was going to say, he proceeds thus:
In all the employments with which
the Roman people have honored me
to this day. have ever thought my
self obliged, by the most sacred ties
Sf religion, worthily to discharge the
duties of them. When I was MADE
uuaester, look upon that dignity,
not as a gratuity conferred upon me
for my particular use, but as deposit
confided to my vigilance and fidelity.
When was afterwards sent to act In
that office, thought all eyes were
turned upon me, and that my person
and administration were in a manner
exhibited as a spectacle to view Of all
the world; and in this I thought l not
only denied myself all pleasures OF
an extraordinary kind, but even those
which are authorized by nature and
necessity. I am now intended for
aedile. I call the gods to witness,
that how honorable soeyer this dtgni-
ty seems to me, have too just sense
of its weight not to have more solici-
tude and disquiet than Joy and pleas
ure from 1t: so much desire to make
II appear that it was not bestowed up
on me by chance, or the necessity OF
being filled, but confided, deserved
ly by the choice and discernment OF
my country."-Cic. vii. n. 3b.
The commonwealth of Rome had,
for nearly sixty years. been fiuctuat-
ing between the contending orders
that composed it, till at length each
side, as IL weary, was willing to re-
tire awhile from the mutual exer-
tions Of its claims The citizens OF
every rank began to complain OF the
arbitrary decisions Of their mag1s-
trates and wished to be guided by
written body Of laws, which, being
known, might prevent wrongs as
we'll as punish them. In this. botn
the senate and the people concurred'
hoping that such laws would put an
end to the connections that 80 long
had tarassed the state. 1t was there
upon agreed that ambassadors should
be sent to the Greek cities In Italy,
and to Athens, to bring home such
laws from thence as. by experience,
had been found most equitable and
useful. For this purpose three sem
a.ors, Posthumus, Sculpicius and
Malinus, were fixed upon and galleys
assigned to convey them. agreeably
to the majesty Of the Roman people.
While they were upon this commissi-
on abroad, dreadful plague depopu-
lated the city at home, and supplied
the interval of their absence with
other anxiety than that Of wishes for
their return. In about a year, the
plague ceased, and the ambassadors
returned, bringing home a body Of
laws, collected from the most civil
lied states of Greece and Italy, which,
being afterwards formed into ten
tables, and two more being added,
made that celebrated code, called the
Laws of the Twelve Tables. These
laws were engraven on brass and hung
up in the most conspicuous part Of the
Forum.
Inc dInDdSSduCFS were HO Soohei iS-
turned than the tribunes required that
body Of men should be chosen to
digest their new laws into proper form
and to give weight to the execution Of
them. After long debate whether
this choice should not be made from
the people as we'll as the particians,
1t was at last agreed that ten Of the
principal senators should be elected,
whose power continuing for year,
should be equal to that Of kings and
consuls, and that without any ap-
peal. Thus the whole constitution of
the state at once took a new form,
and a dreadful experiment was about
to be tried Of governing one nation by
laws formed from the manners and
customs Of another.
These Decemviri, being now invested
with absolute power, agreed to take
the reins of government by turns,
each to administer justice for a day.
For the first year they wrought with
extreme application; and their work