Will of the Senate - Senate Deliberations II

[econ21]

[QUINTUS]: I must speak against motion 6.9. While I too was shocked to hear that we have given Germany settlements in Gaul, the First Consul was acting within his authority to do so. If Senator Tiberius Coruncanius wishes to restrict the authority of First Consuls in diplomacy in future, he should submit a simple motion that does so, not criticise the First Consul for doing what he was perfectly entitled to do so.

So much for the legality of the First Consul's action - but was it wise? Shocked though I was, I confess I now see a certain logic to it. With the enslavement of their people and the destruction of their buildings, it was inevitable that Gaul would fall. Since Germany is currently more preoccupied than Iberia, I can see why the First Consul wished them to be the ones to step into the power vacuum.

Personally, I have hitherto been in favour of our own Republic occupying Gaul. But given that the Senate decided on a strategy of raiding, I cannot fault the First Consul's execution of that strategy to date. Indeed, rather than condemn him, I believe we should congratulate him on his accomplishments in the battlefield and on the rapid pace of his progress.

However, as evidenced by motion 6.8, I do have grave doubts about the wisdom of his plans for the rest of his term of office.

[econ21]

[QUINTUS]: Ah, it is good to see my friend, Publius Laevinus, here at the Senate. But I beseech you with regard to motion 6.5, what is this obsession with auxilia buildings? Why is it necessary to tie up all our settlements creating facilities for training troops? It is absurd! We can easily supply all our needs from our Roman provinces and those provinces already earmarked for the recruitment of auxiliaries. How many men, Legate Publius Laevinus, did you lose in your last glorious battle with the Gauls? Eight? Must each settlement be forced to contribute a finger or toe for the replacements for these eight fallen heroes?

Senators, we have other priorities! There are still markets to be built and roads to be laid. Roma itself needs investing in so its population may grow and we can ultimately establish the most advanced metalworks to equip our troops with the finest weapons and armour. The great ports of Tarentum and Syracuse do not have armouries for their ships, nor have we constructed a single warship! Our largest settlements have poor sanitation and I fear terrible plague may strike at any moment. Let us invest wisely on a case by case basis and not pander to this obsession with militarising the smallest hamlet!

[Death the destroyer of worlds]

As to the question of technicalities surrounding Motion 6.9 I will say this :

I see Motion 6.9 as an expression of disfavour/condemnation by the senate. This will not remove the consul from office.

However, I might exercize my right to propose a Motion to impeach the consul, which if passed by 2/3 of the senate, will remove the consul from office.

Further there is the argument that there is no specific law laid down by this house regarding the giving away of conquered land to nonallied nations.
I see this as a non-argument. There are also no laws against burning down Roma, but that is no reason to putting it to the torch. There is such a thing as common sense.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Consul Aemilius, would you have preferred to keep the settlements in the hands of the Gauls, who have and would continue to attack us?

As to Consul Virginius' victories, I congratulate him, they are well-deserved. We have significantly filled the treasury- let us invest the money. If the Iberians are to attack us, let them. They can have the settlements west of Massilia. They can then futiley waste their men trying to take Massilia itself. For this I second Motion 6.8.

[Braden]

A recognised messenger arrives, it is Decius Curtius’s man servant. After being given leave to speak he unrolls his parchment and beings:

Noble Senators of the Republic,

I may shock you by saying that I will not support impeachment against the Consul for his actions of granting the Germainians Gaul territory. However, what I am surprised and vexed by is that the Consul would give such without first offering a relating treaty? I would like to know why we did not secure a firm alliance with the Germainians for these regions.

I will not support the impeachment as I feel that a Consul should have sufficient “free hand” to enter into such diplomatic moves. I do feel that the Republic has suffered from the Consuls misjudgement in this matter though and a lost chance for an alliance and further trade has been lost.

This is NOT to say that I support the Consul in his actions, only to say that any Consul should have the freedom to perform such acts.

No, I do not support this move. The Germainians can potentially be a much greater threat than the Gauls in time…..but that is a legacy the Consul will leave us for years in the future.

Iberia. Has the Consul lost his sanity?! Is he now a megalomaniac? I do not support any actions against the Iberians, we should withdraw as the Consul pledged to do in his manifesto and secure our borders, hence I support Motion #6.8. The Consul appears determined to drag us into more wars and endless bloodshed..

…I say to the Senate these are warnings that the Senate should have realised about at the last elections!! The current Consul is bent on Conquest for Conquests sake, he is drunk on Denarii I say!

I warned the Senate in the last session of this danger and I was NOT heeded. I ask the Senate to monitor this Consul very closely indeed as whilst the investment in the Republic is commendable the methods he is determined to follow further are unacceptable.

War in the North must stop! This was promised by the Consul before he was elected, he must follow that manifesto and withdraw once Gaul has been pacified. Give more regions to the Germainians if you choose Consul but you MUST gain more than just “good will” for them, this we must insist lest even I turn and urge a full impeachment which will loose you your office.

Lower your blood-lust Consul, come home and build. Carthage is still here, they grow stronger every season……as I predicted!......and soon we will have lost our chance to destroy our great enemy to the South. If you delay too long before preparing for Carthage, my the extra deaths weigh heavy on your heart.

We must use this extra denarii to continue building ships, without them we cannot defend our shores OR launch an invasion of Carthage or Greece or even protect any force in Iberia (should that folly be decided upon). To this end I propose the following motion:

Motion #6.13:

The Senate authorises the completion of a Consular fleet for transport and defence purposes.

Now, Consul, I am at your behest here in Afrika. Whilst I do not support, have never supported your proposals, my life is in your hands here. I ask that I be used in some form as I have been “neglected” in favour of my other counterparts.

The messenger sits and awaits the Senates pleasure……

[TinCow]

It appears my previous words have been overlooked by some. I will repeat them for clarification of this issue:

Regarding the territories given to Germania. It is a total fallacy of thought that I would ever have handed them over freely without spending maximum efforts in an attempt to secure both an alliance and monetary tribute for Rome. Sextus Antio discussed the issue twice with both the Thracian and the Germans. Neither was willing to give either a formal alliance or any kind of monetary compensation for the territories. Wisely, they recognized the total worthlessness of these territories and did not wish to pay for them.

At this point, I was confronted with a situation. Rome could not receive anything of value for these provinces, regardless of how much we may have wished to. I then saw two choices: leave the territories as they were and let the Gauls retake them, or gift them away to a non-hostile nation. I chose to weaken our enemy rather than give them any chance of recovery.

OOC:
Seriously, I think we should start expecting less in the Senate from Consular diplomacy. At this point, we have achieved pretty much everything that is possible to achieve. No one will agree to anything that hasn't already occurred. Greece won't even make peace with us, not even if offered a massive tribute, even though we share no border. Trust me, I've tried every option with Iberia, Germania, Thrace, Illyria, Macedon, Greece and Carthage... nothing works. It certainly is realistic to make motions for diplomatic actions and to discuss these things, but I think it's a bit unfair to hold it against me when it's a game mechanic I can't do anything about.

[Braden]

Consul,

As my master has indicated he does not question the validity of handing these regions to the Germainians. It was, a tactically sound proposition for, as you suggest, they would have been taken by force of arms soon anyway.

I apologise on my masters behalf for not relating the diplomatic details correctly or fully. I am sure his opinion would be to support the choice you made given the diplomatic brick wall you were presented with.

OOC: We’re only holding it against your character, in character so don’t worry. It’s a real shame that someone hasn’t been able to rectify the poor diplomatic AI in this game.