16. But the relations existing between Rome and the Italian nations were extremely various in kind. 1. A few cities and nations enjoyed the full privileges of Roman citizenship; in some instances, however, without the right of voting in the _comitia_ (_municipia_). 2. The privileges of the colonies (_jus coloniarum_) were of a more restricted nature; the colonists were indeed in possession of their own civic government, but had no further share whatever either in the _comitia_ or magistracies of Rome. The other inhabitants of Italy were either federates (_socii, foedere juncti_) or subjects (_dedititii_). The first (_a_) preserved their internal form of government; but on the other hand (_b_) were obliged to furnish tribute and auxiliary troops (_tributis et armis juvare rempublicam_). Their further relation with Rome depended upon the terms of the league. The most advantageous of these terms were 3. in favour of the Latins, although each of their cities had its own separate league (_jus Latii_;) as 4. the rest of the Italian nations had their _jus Italicum_. On the other hand, 5. the subjects, _dedititii_, were deprived of their internal constitutions, and were governed by Roman magistrates, (_praefecti_,) annually renewed. C. SIGONIUS, _De antiquo jure civium Romanorum_; and his treatise _De antiquo jure Italiae_, inserted both in his _Opera_ and in GRAEVII _Thes. Ant. Rom._ t. ii. contain the most learned researches on the details of these relations. 17. The internal constitution of Rome itself, now completed, bore the character of a democracy, inasmuch as equality of rights existed both for nobles and commons. Yet this democracy was modified by expedients so various and wonderful--the rights of the people, of the senate, of the magistrates, fitted so nicely into each other, and were so firmly supported by the national religion, connecting every thing with determinate forms--that there was no reason, at that time, to fear the evils either of anarchy, or, what is much more astonishing when we consider the warlike character of the people, those of military despotism.