He had been their champion, and, as they believed, their friend.

The removal of Caesar brought no accession of power nor increase of liberty to them.

It might have been a gain to ambitious senators, or powerful generals, or high officers of state, by removing a successful rival out of their way, but it seemed to promise little advantage to the community at large, other than the changing of one despotism for another.

Besides, a populace who know that they mast be governed, prefer generally, if they must submit to some control, to yield their submission to some one master spirit whom they can look up to as a great and acknowledged superior.

They had rather have a Caesar than a Senate to command them.
[Sidenote: Feelings of the populace.] The higher authorities, however, were, at might have been expected, disposed to acquiesce in the removal of Caesar from his intended throne.
The Senate met, and passed an act of indemnity, to shield the conspirators from all legal liability for the deed they had done.