History of the Venetian Republic by W. Carew Hazlitt

Author:W. Carew Hazlitt
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Jovian Press

CHAPTER XIX

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A.D. 1286-1309

Another motive which had influenced the Government in listening favorably to the overtures of Matteo Visconti, but which it was perhaps backward in avowing, was that the object which it had partly in view in protracting the war, no longer existed. While, by the dexterity of Gradenigo and his aristocratic advisers, the attention of the people at large was drawn away from domestic concerns to the progress of foreign affairs, a new revolution was being accomplished without much opposition, the magnitude and importance of which were, as it had happened in former instances, by no means sufficiently appreciated, and to the true principles and workings of which all, save a few political circles, were comparative strangers.

Among the remarkable changes which were introduced into the constitutional system in 1173, the most notable had been the institution of the Great Council. This Body was properly composed of 480 members, who were chosen by twelve nominees from the six Wards or Scstieri, two nominees representing each ward. The day of election was the 29th September, and the members, though virtually re-eligible for the second and succeeding years, held their seats only from the Michaelmas current to the Michaelmas ensuing. No property qualification was demanded. No distinction of class was ostensibly recognized. At first, no limitation in point of age was specifically made. The attendance of members remained optional. Those who did not choose to vote against a particular measure, or in favor of a particular amendment, freely absented themselves; and the consequence was that though the number of the Council was nominally carried nearly to 500, it was considered a full House when 350 or 360 could be counted.

In another and more leading respect, while the theory was strict, the practice was lax and informal. Instead of the original system of renewing the Great Council at Michaelmas, from year to year, through the medium of twelve electors, a usage gradually sprang up, from a desire, perhaps, to diminish the tumult inseparable from such occasions, of distributing the process over two half-yearly periods, and of returning at each a moiety only of the full complement; and it not infrequently occurred that the number in the Legislative Assembly fell short of 250. In 1296 there were 210 only. In the preceding year, 260 had been counted on the benches: while in 1294 as many as 350 were present.

In 1293, a totally different plan was pursued, and additions were made to the Great Council, from time to time, without the slightest apparent deference to constitutional practice. Thus, 100 members were elected on the 27th September, 60 on the 4th November, 68 on the 22nd December, 41 on the 23rd February: representing an aggregate of 269 new members in rather less than five months. There were some cases in which, by a still bolder departure from the general routine the procuratorial division of the city into Di Cu and Di Qua Canale was substituted for the more usual method of distribution into Wards, and four electors were appointed, two for Di Ca, and an equal number for Di Qua.

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