.

We must remember that in this assembly all criminal cases were tried,
magistrates nominated, and laws adopted or rejected. We must not forget
that, since it was on a property basis, it was under the control of the
patricians, for the great mass of plebeians were poor. Still there were
many wealthy plebeians, and so far the assembly was a gain for this
party.

About this time the Senate, which heretofore had consisted solely of
Fathers of the families (_Patres_), admitted into its ranks some of the
richest of the landed plebeians, and called them CONSCRIPTI. (Footnote:
This is the origin of the phrase used by speakers addressing the Senate,
viz.: "_Patres (et) Consripti_") These, however, could take no part in
debates, nor could they hold magistracies.

In the Senate, thus constituted, the nomination of all magistrates made
in the Comitia Centuriata was confirmed or rejected. In this way it
controlled the election of the Consuls, whose duties, we must remember,
were those of generals and supreme judges, though every Roman citizen
had the privilege of appealing from their decision in cases which
involved life.

Two subordinate officers, chosen from the patricians, were appointed by
the Consuls. These officers, called QUAESTORES, managed the finances of
the state, under the direction of the Senate.

The wars in which the Romans had been engaged, during the century
preceding the establishment of the Republic, had impoverished the state
and crippled its commerce. This was felt by all classes, but especially
by the small landed plebeians whose fields had been devastated. They
were obliged to mortgage their property to pay the taxes, and, when
unable to meet the demands of their creditors, according to the laws
they could be imprisoned, or even put to death.

The rich land-owners, on the other hand, increased their wealth by
"farming" the public revenues; i.e. the state would let out to them,
for a stipulated sum, the privilege of collecting all import and other
duties. These, in turn (called in later times Publicans), would
extort all they could from the tax-payers, thus enriching themselves
unlawfully. So the hard times, the oppression of the tax-gatherer, and
the unjust law about debt, made the condition of the poor unendurable.

The military service, too, bore hard upon them. Many were obliged to
serve more than their due time, and in a rank lower than was just; for
the Consuls, who had charge of the levy of tro