The Two Great Republics: Rome and the United StatesLewis, James
History
The Two Great Republics: Rome and the United States
Lewis, James
Rome -- Politics and government -- 510-30 B.C.; United States -- Politics and government
5. They shall not collect the bones of a dead man for a
second interment.
7. Whoever wins a crown, either in person or by his slaves
or animals, or has received it for valor....
8. ... he shall not add gold ... ; but gold used in joining
the teeth.... This may be burned or buried with the dead
without incurring any penalty.
TABLE XI
(No fragments of this table are extant.)
TABLE XII
SUPPLEMENTARY LAWS
2. If a slave has committed theft, or has done damage....
3. If either party shall have won a suit concerning property
by foul means, at the discretion of the opponent ... the
magistrate shall fix the damage at twice the profits arising
from the interim possession.
The decemvirs were forcibly overthrown before the close of their
second year in office. The stories as to the cause are not only
conflicting but diametrically so. According to one historical theory,
the rebellion against the decemvirs began among the plebeians on
account of the oppression which they suffered from the hands of these
men; while, on the other hand, it is believed by many historians that
the decemvirs were overthrown by the patricians because they were
giving too many concessions to the plebeians. Whatever the cause, the
power of the decemvirs was taken from them and all the former Roman
officials and assemblies were reëstablished, with the old powers and
jurisdictions. The "Law of the Twelve Tables," which the decemvirs had
drawn up, however, remained for centuries as the great basis of Roman
law.
Five years after the deposition of the decemvirs the tribune Canuleius
secured the passage by the comitia tributa of the Canuleian Law, which
marked another milestone passed by the plebeians in their march toward
equality before the law.
Two great concessions were given by this act, one in the field of
private and the other in the field of public law. The law which had
existed from the earliest days in Rome, and which had been
incorporated in the "Law of the Twelve Tables," prohibiting
intermarriage between plebeians and patricians, was abolished. It was
also provided that any year the people, instead of electing consuls,
might elect military tribunes, who should possess all the powers,
although not all the dignities, of the consuls. Either patricians or
plebeians could be elected to the office of military tribunes.
The election of military tribunes was authorized by law many years
before any such officials were elected in Rome; but the fear that the
consular power might sometime fall into the hands of a plebeian
induced the patricians in 443 B.C. to secure the passage of a law for
the creation of new officials who should possess some of the powers
previously held by the consul and who must be chosen from the
patrician order.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account