ch. 393.39This obedience, however, was shown more by their
coming to the Senate-house than by any servility in the
sentiments
which we understand that they expressed. It is recorded
that after the question of the war had been introduced by
Appius Claudius, and before the formal discussion began, [Note]
L. Valerius Potitus created a scene by demanding that he
should be allowed to speak on the political question, and on
the decemvirs forbidding him in threatening tones to do so,
he declared that he would present himself before the people.
Marcus Horatius Barbatus showed himself an equally determined
opponent, called the decemvirs ten Tarquins, and reminded
them that it was under the leadership of the Valerii and the
Horatii that monarchy had been expelled from Rome. It was not
the name of king that men had now grown weary of, for it
was the proper title of Jupiter, Romulus the founder of the
City and his successors were called kings, and the name was
still retained for religious purposes. It was the tyranny and
violence of kings that men detested. If these were
insupportable in a king or a king's son, who would endure
them in ten private citizens? They should see to it that they
did not, by forbidding freedom of speech in the House, compel
them to speak outside its walls. He could not see how it was
less permissible for him as a private citizen to convene an
Assembly of the people than for them to summon the senate.
They might find out whenever they chose how much more
powerful a sense of wrong is to vindicate liberty than greedy
ambition is to support tyranny. They were bringing up the
question of the Sabine war as if the Roman people had any
more serious war to wage than one against men who, appointed
to draw up laws, left no vestige of law or justice in the
State; who had abolished the elections, the annual
magistrates, the regular succession of rulers, which formed the
sole guarantee of equal liberty for all; who, though simple
citizens, still retained the fasces and the power of despotic
monarchs. After the expulsion of the kings, the magistrates
were patricians; after the secession of the plebs, plebeian
magistrates were appointed. What party did these men belong
to? he asked. The popular party? Why, what have they ever
done in conjunction with the people? The nobility? What!
these men, who have not held a meeting of the senate for
nearly a year, and now that they are holding one, forbid any
speaking on the political situation? Do not place too much
reliance on the fears of others. The ills that men are
actually suffering from seem to them much more grievous than
any they may fear in the future.
