De officio praesidis libri
Ex libro I
Dig. 1,18,1Macer libro primo de officio praesidis. Praesidis nomen generale est eoque et proconsules et legati Caesaris et omnes provincias regentes, licet senatores sint, praesides appellantur: proconsulis appellatio specialis est.
Macer, On the Duties of Governor, Book I. The title of Governor is a general one, and hence it is applicable to Proconsuls and Deputies of the Emperor, as well as to all Governors of the provinces, and even to Senators. The title of Proconsul is one of special signification.
Dig. 1,18,16Macer libro primo de officio praesidis. Senatus consulto cavetur, ut de his, quae provincias regentes, comites aut libertini eorum, antequam in provinciam venerint, contraxerunt, parcissime ius dicatur, ita ut actiones, quae ob eam causam institutae non essent, posteaquam quis eorum ea provincia excesserit, restituerentur. si quid tamen invito accidit, veluti si iniuriam aut furtum passus est, hactenus ei ius dicendum est, ut litem contestetur resque ablata exhibeatur et deponatur aut sisti exhiberive satisdato promittatur.
Macer, On the Office of Governor, Book I. It is provided by a Decree of the Senate “That judicial proceeding must be very sparingly instituted with reference to obligations contracted by those who govern provinces, their attendants, or their freedmen, before they entered the province; for any actions which are not brought for this reason can be filed afterwards when any of the parties have left the province. But where anything occurs against the will of the party, as for instance if he suffers some injury, or is made the victim of theft, proceedings can be instituted to the extent of joining issue, and ordering the production and deposit of the stolen property; or a promise shall be given with security that the party will appear, or that the article in question will be produced.”
Dig. 1,21,4Macer libro primo de officio praesidis. Cognitio de suspectis tutoribus mandari potest. immo etiam ex mandata generali iurisdictione propter utilitatem pupillorum eam contingere constitutum est in haec verba: ‘Imperatores Severus et Antoninus Braduae proconsuli Africae. cum propriam iurisdictionem legatis tuis dederis, consequens est, ut etiam de suspectis tutoribus possint cognoscere.’ 1Ut possessio bonorum detur, vel si cui damni infecti non caveatur ut is possidere iubeatur, aut ventris nomine in possessionem mulier, vel is cui legatum est legatorum servandorum causa in possessionem mittatur, mandari potest.
Macer, On the Office of Governor, Book I. Cognizance of the acts of suspected guardians can be delegated, and it is settled that this may occur in the general delegation of jurisdiction, on account of the interest of wards, as follows: “The Emperors Severus and Antoninus to Braduas, Proconsul of Africa. Since you have delegated your jurisdiction to your Deputies, it follows that they can take cognizance of the acts of suspected guardians.” 1Thus power can be delegated to give possession of property, as for instance, when an order is issued to take possession where a bond is not furnished to provide against threatened injury; or for possession in the case of a woman in behalf of her unborn child; or to grant possession to a legatee for the preservation of his legacy.
Dig. 1,22,3Macer libro primo de officio praesidis. Si eadem provincia postea divisa sub duobus praesidibus constituta est, velut Germania, mysia, ex altera ortus in altera adsidebit nec videtur in sua provincia adsedisse.
Macer, On the Office of Governor, Book I. Where the same province has been divided between two Governors, as for instance, Germany and Mysia, a man born in either can act as assessor in the other and is not considered as acting in his own province.
Dig. 29,2,61Macer libro primo de officio praesidis. Si minor annis, posteaquam ex parte heres exstitit, in integrum restitutus est, divus Severus constituit, ut eius partis onus coheres suscipere non cogatur, sed bonorum possessio creditoribus detur.
Macer, On the Duties of Governor, Book I. Where a minor, after having accepted an estate, obtains complete restitution, the Divine Severus decreed that his co-heir is not bound to assume liability for the debts of his share of the estate, but that prætorian possession of the same should be granted to the creditors.
Ex libro II
Dig. 48,3,7Macer libro secundo de officio praesidis. Solent praesides provinciarum, in quibus delictum est, scribere ad collegas suos, ubi factores agere dicuntur, et desiderare, ut cum prosecutoribus ad se remittantur: et id quoque quibusdam rescriptis declaratur.
Macer, On the Duties of Governor, Book II. The Governor of a province in which a crime has been committed is accustomed to write to his colleagues, where it is said that the guilty parties are, and ask them to send them to him under guard. This has also been prescribed by certain rescripts.
Dig. 48,19,12Macer libro secundo de officio praesidis. Quod ad statum damnatorum pertinet, nihil interest, iudicium publicum fuerit nec ne: nam sola sententia, non genus criminis spectatur. itaque hi, in quos animadverti iubetur quive ad bestias dantur, confestim poenae servi fiunt.
Macer, On the Duties of Governor, Book II. With reference to the civil condition of persons who have been convicted, it makes no difference whether the prosecution was public or not; for the sentence, and not the kind of crime, is alone considered. Therefore, those who are ordered to be punished in other ways, or who are delivered up to wild beasts, instantly become penal slaves.
Dig. 50,5,5Macer libro secundo de officio praesidis. A decurionatu, quamvis hic quoque honor est, ad alium honorem nullam vacationem tribuendam Ulpianus respondit.
Macer, On the Duties of Governor, Book II. Ulpianus gave it as his opinion that no exemption should be granted to any other office while anyone was called to it from the decurionate.
Dig. 50,10,3Macer libro secundo de officio praesidis. Opus novum privato etiam sine principis auctoritate facere licet, praeterquam si ad aemulationem alterius civitatis pertineat vel materiam seditionis praebeat vel circum theatrum vel amphitheatrum sit. 1Publico vero sumptu opus novum sine principis auctoritate fieri non licere constitutionibus declaratur. 2Inscribi autem nomen operi publico alterius quam principis aut eius, cuius pecunia id opus factum sit, non licet.
Macer, On the Duties of Governor, Book II. A private individual can construct a new work even without the authority of the Emperor, unless this is done through rivalry with another city, or may furnish material for sedition, or is a circus, a theatre, or an amphitheatre. 1It is stated by the Imperial Constitutions that it is not lawful for a new work to be constructed at the public expense without the authority of the Emperor. 2It is not lawful for any other name than that of the Emperor, or of him by whose money it was constructed, to be inscribed upon any public work.