The people of Rome had some share of probity. Such was the force of
this probity that the legislator had frequently no further occasion than
to point out the right road, and they were sure to follow it; one would
imagine that instead of precepts it was sufficient to give them
counsels.
The punishments of the regal laws, and those of the Twelve Tables,
were almost all abolished in the time of the republic, in consequence
either of the Valerian
[27]
or of the Porcian law.
[28]
It was never observed that this step did any manner of prejudice to the civil
administration.
This Valerian law, which restrained the magistrates from using
violent methods against a citizen that had appealed to the people,
inflicted no other punishment on the person who infringed it than that
of being reputed a dishonest man.
[29]
