"
Tiberius heard and was silent, while the debate was managed on both sides
with mighty vehemence; but the adjournment was carried.
A debate too arose between Gallus and the Emperor: for Gallus moved "that
the magistrates should be henceforth elected but once every five years;
that the legates of the legions, who had never exercised the Praetorships,
should be appointed Praetors; and that the Prince should nominate twelve
candidates every year." It was not doubted but this motion had a deeper
aim, and that by it the secret springs and reserves of imperial power were
invaded. But Tiberius, as if he rather apprehended the augmentation of his
power, argued "that it was a heavy task upon his moderation, to choose so
many magistrates, and to postpone so many candidates. That disgusts from
disappointments were hardly avoided in yearly elections; though, for their
solacement, fresh hopes remained of approaching success in the next; now
how great must be the hatred, how lasting the resentment of such whose
pretensions were to be rejected beyond five years? and whence could it be
foreseen that, in so long a tract of time, the same men would continue to
have the same dispositions, the same alliances and fortunes? even an
annual designation to power made men imperious; how imperious would it
make them, if they bore the honour for five years! besides, it would
multiply every single magistrate into five, and utterly subvert the laws
which had prescribed a proper space for exercising the diligence of the
candidates, and for soliciting as well as enjoying preferments.
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