32.7
.During
these occurrences in Macedonia the other consul, L. Lentulus, who had
remained in Rome, conducted the election of censors. Amidst several
candidates of distinction the choice of the electors fell upon P. Cornelius
Scipio Africanus and P. Aelius Paetus. They worked together in perfect
harmony, and revised the roll of the senate without disqualifying a single
member. They also leased out to contractors the customs dues at Capua and
Puteoli and the harbour dues at the Castra Hannibalis, where a town now
stands. Here they sent 300 colonists -the number fixed by the senate -and
also sold the land belonging to Capua which lay at the foot of Mount Tifata.
L. Manlius Acidinus, who left Spain about this time, was prevented by P.
Porcius, a tribune of the plebs, from enjoying an ovation on his return,
though the senate had granted it to him. He entered the City in an unofficial
capacity, and brought into the treasury 1200 pounds' weight of silver and 30
pounds of gold. During the year Cn. Baebius Tamphilus, who had succeeded
C. Aurelius in the command in Gaul, invaded the country of the Insubrian
Gauls, but owing to his want of caution he was surprised, and very nearly
lost the whole of his army. His actual losses amounted to 6700 men, and this
great defeat occurred in a quarter which was no longer a cause of
apprehension. This incident called L. Lentulus out of the City. As soon as he
reached the province, which was filled with disturbance, he took over the
command of the demoralised army and after severely censuring the praetor
ordered him to quit the province and go back to Rome. The consul himself,
however, did nothing of any importance, as he was recalled to Rome to
conduct the elections. These were delayed by two of the tribunes of the
plebs, M. Fulvius and Manius Curius, who would not allow T. Quinctius
Flamininus to be a candidate for the consulship as he was only quaestor at
the time. They alleged that the offices of aedile and praetor were now looked
down upon, the nobility did not rise through the successive posts of honour
before trying for the consulship and so give proof of their efficiency, but
passing over the intermediate steps made the highest immediately follow the
lowest. The question passed from the Campus Martius to the senate, who
passed a resolution to the effect that when any one was a candidate for an
office of dignity which he might lawfully hold, it was right in such a case that
the people should have the power to elect whom they would. The tribunes
deferred to the authority of the senate. The consuls elected were Sex. Aelius
Paetus and T. Quinctius Flamininus. At the subsequent election of praetors
the following were returned: L. Cornelius Merula, M. Claudius Marcellus,
M. Porcius Cato and C. Helvius. These had been plebeian aediles, and
exhibited the Plebeian Games and celebrated the festival of Jupiter. The
curule aediles -C. Valerius Flaccus, one of the Flamens of Jupiter, and C.
Cornelius Cethegus -celebrated the Roman Games with great splendour.
Two pontiffs -both members of the house of the Sulpicii, Servius and Caius
-died this year. Their places were filled up by M. Aemilius Lepidus and
Cnaeus Cornelius Scipio.
