first instance, of
obtaining the honour, by reason of the irritated state of the people's
mind, then indignation at having to hold the office with such persons,
deterred the patricians; at length however, being forced, they stood as
candidates, lest they might appear to have relinquished all share in the
government. The result of this election showed that the sentiments of
persons in the struggle for liberty and dignity are different from those
they feel when the contest is laid aside, the judgment being unbiassed;
for the people elected all patricians as tribunes, content with this,
that the plebeians had been taken into account. Where could you now find
in an individual such moderation, disinterestedness, and elevation of
mind, as was then displayed by the entire people?

7. In the three hundred and tenth year after the city of Rome was built,
for the first time military tribunes in the room of consuls enter into
office, Aulus Sempronius Atratinus, Lucius Atilius, Titus Claelius; in
whose office the concord prevailing at home afforded peace also abroad.
There are some who, without mentioning the proposal of the law
concerning the election of consuls from among the commons, say that
three military tribunes were elected on account of the Veientian war
being added to the war of the AEquans and the Volscians and to the revolt
of the Ardeates, because two consuls could not execute so many wars
together, these tribunes being invested also with the authority and
insignia of consuls. The jurisdiction of that office however did not
stand on a firm footing, because the third month after they entered on
the office, they resigned the honour, in pursuance of a decree of the
augurs, as if unduly elected; because Caius Curtius, who had presided at
the election, had not selected his tent with due regard to ceremony.
Ambassadors came to Rome from Ardea complaining of the injustice in such
a manner, that it appeared that, if it were redressed, they would
continue in amity and the observance of the treaty, on the restitution
of their land. The answer returned by the senate was: "that the judgment
of the people could not be rescinded by the senate, besides such a
measure could not be adopted on precedent or with justice;, as an
additional reason also for the purpose of preserving concord between the
several orders of the state. If the Ardeans were willing to abide a
seasonable conjuncture, and leave to the senate the mode of redressing
t