"And the fathers, having been consulted accordingly, there
were three opinions: Publius Virginius conceived that the
consideration to be had upon the matter in question, or aid of
the indebted and imprisoned people, was not to be further
extended than to such as had engaged upon the promise made by
Servilius; Titus Largius, that it was no time to think it enough,
if men's merits were acknowledged, while the whole people, sunk
under the weight of their debts, could not emerge without some
common aid, which to restrain, by putting some into a better
condition than others, would rather more inflame the discord than
extinguish it; Appius Claudius (still upon the old haunt) would
have it that the people were rather wanton than fierce; it was
not oppression that necessitated, but their power that invited
them to these freaks; the empire of the Consuls since the appeal
to the people (whereby a plebeian might ask his fellows if he
were a thief) being but a mere scarecrow. 'Go to,' says he, 'let
us create the dictator, from whom there is no appeal, and then
let me see more of this work, or him that shall forbid my
lictor.'
"The advice of Appius was abhorred by many; and to introduce
a general recision of debts with Largius, was to violate all
faith; that of Virginius, as the most moderate, would have passed
best, but that there were private interests, that constant bane
of the public, which withstood it.
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