The consequence of such connivance accordingly was, that OH the subjugation of the slave-revolt the consul Publius Rupilius ordered all that came into his hands alive--it is said upwards of 20,000 men--to be crucified.

It was in truth no longer possible to spare capital.
The Italian Farmers The care of the government for the elevation of free labour, and by consequence for the restriction of the slave-proletariate, promised fruits far more difficult to be gained but also far richer.
Unfortunately, in this respect there was nothing done at all.

In the first social crisis the landlord had been enjoined by law to employ a number of free labourers proportioned to the number of his slave labourers.( 17) Now at the suggestion of the government a Punic treatise on agriculture,( 18) doubtless giving instructions in the system of plantation after the Carthaginian mode, was translated into Latin for the use and benefit of Italian speculators--the first and only instance of a literary undertaking suggested by the Roman senate! The same tendency showed itself in a more important matter, or to speak more correctly in the vital question for Rome--the system of colonization.

It needed no special wisdom, but merely a recollection of the course of the first social crisis in Rome, to perceive that the only real remedy against an agricultural proletariate consisted in a comprehensive and duly-regulated system of emigration;( 19) for which the external relations of Rome offered the most favourable opportunity.

Until nearly the close of the sixth century, in fact, the continuous diminution of the small landholders of Italy was counteracted by the continuous establishment of new farm-allotments.( 20) This, it is true, was by no means done to the extent to which it might and should have been done; not only was the domain-land occupied from ancient times by private persons( 21) not recalled, but further occupations of newly-won land were permitted; and other very important acquisitions, such as the territory of Capua, while not abandoned to occupation, were yet not brought into distribution, but were let on lease as usufructuary domains.
Nevertheless the assignation of land had operated beneficially--giving help to many of the sufferers and hope to all.