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Next day, when the suffetes had taken their seats to administer justice, the tablet was observed, taken down, and read. Its contents were, that "Aristo came not with a private commission to any person, but with a public one to the elders;" by this name they called the senate.
This sagacious philosopher foresaw the circumstance which would destroy the constitution of Carthage; for when there was a disagreement between the two branches of the legislature, the suffetes and the senate, the question in dispute was referred to the people, and their resolve became the law.
Within ten years of the death of Ithobal, the monarchy came to an end by a revolution, which substituted for Kings Suffetes or Shophetim, "judges," officers of an inferior status, whose tenure of office was not very assured.
Carthage consisted of the Senate proposing and sometimes resolving too, of the people resolving and sometimes debating too, for which fault she was reprehended by Aristotle; and she had her suffetes, and her hundred men, with other magistrates, executing.
The scheme of government was not in itself bad, and in earlier and simpler times had acted well. Originally it had consisted of three estates, which answered to the king, lords, and commons. At the head of affairs were two suffetes chosen for life. Below them was the senate, a very numerous body, comprising all the aristocracy of Carthage.
Power of Hannibal. Desperate valor of the Saguntines. Hannibal's disposition of the spoils. Hannibal chosen one of the suffetes. Nature of the office. Great excitement at Rome. Fearful anticipations. New embassy to Carthage. Warm debates. Fruitless negotiations. The embassadors return. Reply of the Volscians. Council of Gauls. Tumultuous scene. Repulse of the embassadors.
These two, if you will, may be compared to the consuls in Rome, or the suffetes in Carthage, for their magistracy is scarce different. The censors derive their power of removing a senator from those of Rome, the government of the ballot from those of Venice, and that of animadversion upon the ambitious, or canvass for magistracy, from both.
The suffetes, therefore, who form with them an authority similar to the consular, summoned the senate, when the three following opinions were given.
“She can turn herself into anything,” said the other of her capturers, “young or old. I saw her one night near Madaura, a month ago, in the tombs in the shape of a black cat.” “Away with you both, in the name of the Suffetes of Sicca and all the magistracy!” cried the official. “Give up your prisoner to the authorities of the place, and let the law take its course.”
The result of this munificence, and of the renown which his victories in Spain had procured for him, was to raise him to the highest pinnacle of influence and honor. The Carthaginians chose him one of the suffetes. The suffetes were the supreme executive officers of the Carthaginian commonwealth.
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