was
the organization of partizan gangs to terrorize opposition and control the
Assembly.

*Cicero elected consul, 64 B. C.* In the year 64 B. C. three candidates
presented themselves for the consulship, Catiline, Caius Antonius, a noble
of the same type as Catiline, and Cicero. The first two were supported by
Caesar and Crassus who hoped to use them for their own ends. Cicero, as a
_novus homo_, was distasteful to the Optimates, but since they felt that
Catiline must be defeated at all costs they supported the orator, who was
elected with Antonius. From that time Cicero ranged himself on the side of
the Optimates, and his political watchword was the "harmony of the
orders," that is, of the senators and the equestrians. Of the consular
provinces Cicero received by lot Macedonia and Antonius Cisalpine Gaul. As
the latter was dissatisfied Cicero resigned Macedonia to him, in return
for his public assurance of abstaining from opposing Cicero's acts during
their year of office.

*The land bill of Rullus, 63 B. C.* On the first day of his consulate
Cicero delivered a speech in which he scathingly criticized a land bill
proposed by the tribune Servilius Rullus. This bill aimed to create a land
commission of ten members of praetorian rank, elected in a special
_comitia_ of seventeen tribes, which Rullus was to choose by lot. These
commissioners were to be vested with extraordinary powers for five years,
including the right to sell the public land in Italy and in Pompey's
recent conquests, to exercise judicial authority, to confiscate lands, to
found colonies, and to enroll and maintain troops. The bill would have
placed in the hands of the commissioners extraordinary military authority
both in Italy and in the provinces, guaranteed by the income derived from
the sale of land. Pompey was excluded from the commission by a clause
requiring the personal appearance of candidates. Everyone was aware that
the measure was devised in the interests of Caesar and Crassus and that
they would dominate the commission. However, the attack upon the Senate's
control of the public land and the general mistrust of the purposes of a
bill of this sort caused such strong opposition that its sponsors did not
bring the matter to a vote.

*Caesar, **Pontifex** Maximus.* But Caesar could console himself with
victory in another sphere. The position of Pontifex Maximus had become
vacant, and by a tribunician bill the _lex Domitia_, revoked by Sulla, was