The Will of the Senate - Senate Deliberations

[flyd]

What many of my fellow senators fail to realize is that Pyrrhus, by his presence, insults our great republic. How do you suppose this situation appears to other nations? It appears as if any fool, even from an insignificant country such as Epirus, can come to Italy, take what he wants, and threaten Rome. Is that the message we want to send? If Epirus can do it, what's to stop Carthage? We appear weak!

To even have heated debate about this Pyrrhus is dishonorable! The course of action is obvious. We must, immediately, with no delay, attack and defeat the army that threatens Rome, and even more importantly, we must kill Pyrrhus on the field of battle. This would send a warning to anyone else who may have interests in Italy, and would ensure that we would not be bothered by this Pyrrhus again. After that, we may debate about what to do, but our first action is clear.

[econ21]

SENATE SPEAKER: Gentlemen! Gentlemen! These deliberations do you great credit! The range and depth of your wisdom is, in fact, quite overwhelming to a humble person such as myself. By all means, continue with these stirring speeches. But I would, if I may, point out one or two mundane procedural matters.

In this session, you have two great tasks. The first is to elect the First Consul who will lead Rome through the current crisis and for the next five years. As yet, we have three candidates - econ21, DDW and flydude - although their precise identities will only be revealed on Tuesday 6pm UK time. In due course, they will present manifestoes posted here, on the Senate floor. These manifestoes will draw - no doubt - on the wisdom revealed through your deliberations. At that time, I would advise you to take the opportunity provided by this floor to question them and demand satisfaction on the matters that most concern you. Based on their responses, you may then make an informed decision when you cast your vote.

The other great task is less straightforward. You have in you the power to pass motions that will bind the First Consul to whatever acts you direct. Now, granted when in office, he may seek to escape whatever binds you place upon him. But if so, there may be reckoning when he returns here in his third year to account for his progress. On this issue of motions, I have three points to make.

The first is cautionary. Do you need to bind our leader? To deprive him of his freedom to react to events? Think carefully on this. Your speeches may guide him. But your motions will constrain him.

The second point concerns the subject of such motions. We can broadly distinguish three key areas: diplomatic; economic; and military. On diplomacy, the First Consul must come to the Senate first to seek approval for declarations of war, ceasefires and alliances (trade rights he may seek as he wishes). It may be a benefit to our diplomats if you give advance authorisation to specific diplomatic actions, so the ground can be prepared well in advance. On the economy, it may be useful to set broad priorities - what does the Republic need: more troops or more investment in our trade, ports and road? On military motions, we may propose campaigns in specific sectors.

My third and final point is purely procedural. Your words are so powerful that I fear on occasion, they may overwhelm me. May I request that you present motions in writing, using the following format:

MOTION: This house proposes X,Y and Z

Following the format of this script - the emboldening, the italics etc - will greatly assist the scribes in arranging the relevant votes. Keeping the motions simple - ideally one sentence long - will assist them in drawing up composite motions and amalgamating related proposals.

From the debate so far, I can identify two motions that have been explicitly seconded:

MOTION 1: This house proposes that Quintus be given command of an army to unite southern Italy, by destroying Pyrrhus's army and then assuming control of the towns in the south.
Proposer: Tiberius
Seconders: Glaucus, DDW

MOTION 2: This house proposes raising a Third Legion.
Proposer: Tiberius
Seconder: Dutch_guy

I apologise if my scribes have reduce the beauty and subtlety of your fine words into such simple motions. If their form of words is unacceptable, proposers may withdraw the motions and substitute more carefully drafted ones.

The heated debates on wider issues than these two motions may in due course be distilled into further motions. There is no urgency in presenting such motions. Let the free debate continue in the hope of reaching consensus. The final deadline for motions to be floored is Wednesday 6pm UK time. And again remember - much of your wise advice may best be presented as guidance for our First Consul, rather than binding motions.

[TinCow]

Conscript fathers, I vote in the affirmative on both motions and I urge you to do the same!

On the first motion, it is clear to all with sense that the Greek incursion onto Italian soil cannot be tolerated! Pyrrhus is a tyrant and will enslave Italian and Roman alike if he is not confronted. He must be dealt with immediately, without hesitation. Not only will this free Rome from the threat of foreign invasion from the south, but it will also demonstrate Roman honor and justice to our Italian neighbors. Perhaps after such a display of unilateral goodwill, they will join in a confederation with our glorious state. If not, well... there are other means of gaining their support.

On the second motion, I say it is the DUTY of every Senator to vote in favor. Our legions are mighty, but they are few. It will take all our current strength, and then some, to defeat the Greeks. We may take great losses in such a battle. Imagine, fellow Senators, a victory against Pyrrhus, but one in which our brave legions are nearly destroyed, incapable of sustaining a further struggle. I cannot even begin to imagine what such a thing would be called, but I know I do not want it! We must be strong, both to ensure victory and to ensure that that victory is decisive. Not only must we win, we must emerge strong and ready for what awaits us. Raise a third legion? We should raise a third, a fourth and a fifth! We should call upon our Italian allies in Capua and Ancona to provide auxiliaries as well! Let them demonstrate their loyalty to the alliance we have formed. However, such measures go beyond the scope of this vote. Once this one has passed, as I am sure it will, perhaps then we can discuss an even greater expansion.

[SwordsMaster]

Wow, fellow Senators, you sure talk a lot. Forgive me for joining such an advanced session so late, but I fear these matters are urgent enough for me to break my silence and my reclusion in the villa and occupy the seat my forefathers left me.

I second the second motion.

We need an army. I also believe that Pyrrus is not such an immediate threat, and that a legion should be sent south to dissuade him from entering roman soil, but let him turn his attention to the barbarian cities in the south: For our mighty soldiers it makes no difference fighting epeirotes or barbarians on the walls, and they will weaken each other in the mutual struggle.

I propose sending out Consul to annex the cities of Ariminium - a natural port and farmaland - and Arretium to the North to secure the access to Rome, and deny them from the destruction of the Gauls. With whom, I believe we whould make peace for now, until our III legion is raised. Then, we shall drive them north of the Rubicon.

Trade should be established with Carthage, Makedonia (a rival to Pyrrus in his motherland), and our other neighbours.

I believe I said enough, and our venerable president is beginning to doze off, so I will occupy my seat again, and let minds that like their responsibilities speak up.

[GeneralHankerchief]

It seems that the majority of the Senate does not share my thoughts about sending all three legions against Pyrrhus. I respectfully defer to them, and vote Aye on both motions of Tiberius. The threat is indeed imminent.

I just hope that Quintus, or whoever the commander of the first two legions may be, is up to the task. Mars be with him.

[econ21]

[SENATE SPEAKER]: By Jove, is that the time? I must find my deputy to take over this session....

Just a reminder, esteemed Senators. We have two formal motions on the table and others may be proposed until 6pm Wednesday UK time.

Formal voting will start after that time, using some voting procedures my scribes have yet to devise. Strange fellows, those scribes ... they keep wittering about "hanging chads" and other gibberish...

[GeneralHankerchief]

Aha. Well, in that case, my dear Speaker, let me indeed test the waters and retract my votes, since they mean nothing anyway.

Counter-motion: This house approves of the two motions made by Tiberius, but proposes that all three legions be sent to Southern Italia to combat Pyrrhus.

We protect the northen frontier by diplomacy, and create good relations with as many peoples as we can.

[TinCow]

Apologies Speaker, I was been praying at the Shrine of Bacchus this afternoon and I fear the formal... er... rituals may have resulted in a slight mental lapse.

It is a good thing that formal motions may still be proposed, though, for I have one that is of the utmost importance to our great city. This morning, as I was walking around Rome, admiring the wonders of civilized life, I suddenly realized that we lack formal institutions of education! Can you imagine? A people as great as us, with the prospects of rapid expansion and armed conflict looming, yet we have no methods of training the young in the ways of true Roman life! Are we to send uneducated farmers to lead our armies? Shall Rome itself be governed by illiterate prostitutes?

It is not enough to deal with the problems of today, we must also plan for the problems of tomorrow. We must invest in the future now, before it is too late! I propose that within the first year of the approaching Consulate, funds MUST be allocated for the construction of an Academy in Rome itself.

Motion 4: This house requires that construction of an Academy begin in Rome within one year.