Catiline left the city of Rome when he was called out by Cicero, who wanted to justify Catiline’s departure as a conspiracy by identifying members as ethical rebels and economic failures. Giving himself full credit for his work, Cicero stated that the Republic’s survival was at risk and blamed internal enemies like Catiline, adding that Catiline would soon lead an army against Rome. 

Cicero addressed the Senate by alleging that Catiline led an army of scoundrels and wastrels, the conspiracy is made up of losers, and they are all threats to the republic. Arrogantly stating that the gods worked through him, Cicero proclaimed that Catiline would be defeated when he led an army on Rome. However, there were still supporters of Catiline inside the city that needed to be taken care of, persuaded Cicero. 

People who were in debt, immoral, and weak warriors made up Catiline’s army. Cicero urged power to be handed over to him by the Senate because the gods favored Catiline’s defeat. Although the Senate had not yet decided what to do with the conspirators of Catiline, Cicero wanted them to be executed without trial. Knowing that there would be grumblings from the people if the trial did not take place, Cicero spoke to the people in order to identify himself with Jupiter and the Republic. He also reminded them that the Senate had previously honored him, asking only for his good reputation in their minds. 

Announcing to the people the capture of the conspirators, the Senate had given Cicero great honor and he wished only to be remembered for this. In so doing, the Senate had saved the nation, Cicero announced. Because he knew there would be murmurings after the executions, Cicero made several orations in which he explained himself to the people in order to cut short future criticism. Instead of directly calling for their execution, Cicero invoked the gods, citizens, and even slaves, saying all would agree that the conspiracy was totally evil. 

In his first oration, Cicero persuaded Catiline to leave and brought no formal accusation against him, but demonized him. “He has gone, he has departed, he has disappointed, he has rushed out, he is prostrate, stricken, looking back, mourns, vomited out, his followers; dregs of the Republic,” reads the second oration. Cicero used rhetoric, but also five principles which were: Sovereignty: the gods of Rome; Authority: he was the consul who saved Rome; Law: the law of the Senate; Sanctions: death to representative figures of the conspiracy; Succession: the Roman Republic is eternal. In the end, the execution of five men frightened Catiline’s supporters, who fled. Cicero would eventually be murdered by Mark Antony in 42 B.C.