ike
occasion, I shall cite the exact words which Livius puts into the mouth
of Camillus, as confirming what I have already said touching the
methods used by the Romans to extend their power, and as showing how in
chastising their subjects they always avoided half-measures and took
a decided course. For government consists in nothing else than in so
controlling your subjects that it shall neither be in their power nor
for their interest to harm you. And this is effected either by making
such sure work with them as puts it out of their power to do you injury,
or else by so loading them with benefits that it would be folly in them
to seek to alter their condition. All which is implied first in the
measures proposed by Camillus, and next in the resolutions passed on
these proposals by the senate. The words of Camillus were as follows:
"_The immortal gods have made you so entirely masters in the matter you
are now considering, that_ _it lies with you to pronounce whether Latium
shall or shall not longer exist. So far as the Latins are concerned, you
can secure a lasting peace either by clemency or by severity. Would
you deal harshly with those whom you have conquered and who have given
themselves into your hands, you can blot out the whole Latin nation.
Would you, after the fashion of our ancestors, increase the strength of
Rome by admitting the vanquished to the rights of citizenship, here you
have opportunity to do so, and with the greatest glory to yourselves.
That, assuredly, is the strongest government which they rejoice in who
obey it. Now, then, is your time, while the minds of all are bent on
what is about to happen, to obtain an ascendency over them, either by
punishment or by benefits._"

Upon this motion the senate resolved, in accordance with the advice
given by the consul, to take the case of each city separately, and
either destroy utterly or else treat with tenderness all the more
important of the Latin towns. To those cities they dealt with leniently,
they granted exemptions and privileges, conferring upon them the rights
of citizenship, and securing their welfare in every particular. The
others they razed to the ground, and planting colonies in their room,
either removed the inhabitants to Rome, or so scattered and dispersed
them that neither by arms nor by counsels was it ever again in their
power to inflict hurt. For, as I have said already, the Romans never,
in matters of moment, resorted to half-measures