Roman Antiquities, and Ancient Mythology / For Classical Schools (2nd ed)

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ed, chosen from the Patricians. They were called Patres, either on account of their age or the paternal care they had of th

o supply the place of those whom that king had slain, were called Conscripti; that is, per

, and by the military tribunes; but from the year of the city 310, by the censors. At first, only

admitted to this dignity but one who had already borne some magistracy in th

unes of the commons and interrex, ha

for the giving audience to foreign ambassadors, and to such provincial magistrates as were to be heard in open Senates, before they entered the city, as when they petitioned for a triump

f Augustus, who confined them to the Kalends and Ides. The senatus indictus was called for the dispatch of bus

public crier, when anything had happened about which the Senators were to be consulted hastily and without delay: but in latt

s, unless he had a just excuse. The fine was imposed by him who held the Senate, and pledges were

f any one wanted to hinder the passing of a decree, and suspected there was not

s deferred to another day. Augustus ordered that each Senator, before he took his seat, should pay his devotions with an offering of frankincense and wine, at the altar of that g

elect, seem to have had the same preference before the rest of their order. He wh

ative against any decree by the solemn word "Veto," which was called interceding. This might also be done by all who had an equal or greater

ding; but when they only assented to the o

ings foreign to the subject, which they sometimes did, that they might waste the day in speaking. For no new refer

he noise and clamour of the other Senators. Sometimes magistrates,

title of "patres conscripti:" sometimes to the c

erently, to this." Those Senators who only voted, but did not speak, or as some say, had the right of voting, but not of speaking, were called pedarii, because they signified their opinion by their feet,

in the case of Lepidus. Before the vote was put, and while the debate was going on, the members used to take their seats near that pe

ther attendants were not admitted: but what passed, was written

of the people, and courts of justice; also of births and funerals, of marri

ho were present at the engrossing of it; after that, the motion with the name of t

the Senate concerning the honors conferred on C?sar were inscribed in golden letters, on columns of silver. When not carried to the treasury, they were reckoned invalid. Hence it was ordained under Tiberius, that the decrees of the Senate,

y one was at freedom to express his dissent; but when once determined, it was looke

Senate deliberated upon such affairs as the king proposed to them, and the kings were said

government abolished, A. U. 243. Afterwards the power of the Senate was raised to the highest. Everything was done by its authority. The magistrates were in a manner only its ministers. But when the Patricians began to abuse their power, and to exercise cruelty on the P

hing without the authority of the Senate. In all weighty matters, the method usually ob

e consuls and pr?tors, and when it seemed fit, they prolonged their command. They nominated, out of their own body, all ambassadors sent from Rome, and gave to foreign ambassadors what answers they thought proper. They decreed all public thanksgivings for victories obtained, and conferred the honor of an ovation or triumph with the title of imperator on their victorious generals. They could decree the title of king to any prince whom they ple

e passed; "That the consuls should take care that the republic should receive no harm." By which decree an absolute power was granted t

ding force, and were therefore obeyed by all orders. The consuls themselves were obliged to submit to them. They could be annulled or cancelled only by the Senate itself. In the last ages of the re

the same names of the magistrates; but left nothing of the ancient virtue and liberty. While he

the forepart of their Senatorial gown, and black buskins reaching to th

ace at the public spectacles, called orchestra. It was next the stag

use they were folded in the form of a letter or little book. C?sar was said to have