Will of the Senate - Senate Deliberations II

[TinCow]

Senators, where is your honor?

I embark on a great campaign against or oldest enemy. At great risk to my own life, I have destroyed their ability to make war against us. I have done everything in my power to ensure that Rome is protected first and foremost. I see an opportunity to avoid future danger and so, according to the laws of this body, I have opened debate on the issue in the proper manner and with reasoned argument.

Yet for all of this, I receive hatred, spite and impeachment! Where were the calls for impeachment when Quintus declared war on Carthage without Senatorial approval? Who have I declared war on without approval? Is a man not allowed to request a debate on an issue which he believes in?

For shame Senators! You are a disgrace to this body and to the very notion of a Republic!

I shall now specifically address the ridiculous accusations that have been leveled against me.

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. The very idea that I have endangered the Republic by ensuring that our enemy cannot benefit from their lost territories is preposterous. The Germans are more dangerous? To who? If the Germans are so much more deadly than the Gauls, why has not a single Senator raised his voice in favor of war with Germania before now? Why was I elected to ravage Gaul when Germania was apparently our greatest danger? What insanity causes these comments?

The very idea that we even controlled these settlements to begin with is laughable. You act as if giving them away was no different than giving away Rome herself! This body itself elected me to sack Gallic lands, not to conquer them! Our desire was never to control them and it is only by there mere technical restraints of our warfare system that they even entered into our possession! We have no desire to keep these territories nor any claim to them, yet my actions in ensuring that our blood enemies do not use them becomes the greatest crime this Senate has witnessed?

I swear these accusations are a stain upon my honor that I shall not let stand. I have always been loyal to Rome. I have always been loyal to the Republic. My very presence here, having conquered and held not a single province, having done exactly what I said I would, having completed the tasks you elected me to do, is testament to the fact that I have followed the Senate's will to the letter! If you will consult my reports, you will note that one of the first actions I took as Consul was to attempt an alliance with the Iberians in accordance with Motion 3.10.

First and foremost my actions have always been for the good of the Republic and the prosperity of all Roman citizens. I stand behind every action I took and every word that I wrote.

The accusations of some, particularly Tiberius Coruncanius and Lucius Aemilius, men I have served with and men whom I considered good friends, have wounded me greatly. I am not a coward though and woe be to any who believes they can unjustly stain my honor and not suffer the consequences! I say here and now, any man, ANY MAN, who continues to accuse me of disloyalty to the Republic or violations of Senatorial law, will meet me in blood duel before the day is done. I will not live one day longer in the presence of such lies! You will withdraw your accusations or one of us will lie dead!

[flyd]

I find this highly inappropriate, Senator. This is a place of civilized discussion. You need to be able to take criticism without resorting to violent threats.

[SwordsMaster]

I just want to let know my fellow senators that I will support motions 6.3 and 6.5. I believe the industrialisation of our homeland is more important to mantain our fighting edge than rapid expansion.

I would like to bring the senators' attention to the fact that this is a discussion chamber. This is NOT a battlefield. All opinions shall be respected under law of the Republic, and no senators will engage in duel unless the senate approves such a thing.

[econ21]

[QUINTUS]: I must agree with Senator Tiberius Coruncanius, this debate is becoming overheated. The First Consul has not acted dishonourably or illegally. Indeed, I believe he has delivered the great raid on Gaul that he was elected to perform rather more efficiently and quickly than one might reasonably expect. I hope no additional Senators second motion 6.9 so that the situation can be calmed and we can consider the interests of the Republic with cool heads.

I would, however, like to correct the accusation made in the heat of the moment that I brought the Republic into war with Carthage without Senate authorisation. Looking at the records of the Senate deliberations, I observe that I proposed the following motion:

Emergency Motion #5 "This House instructs the First Consul to begin the conquest of Sicily. It gives advance authorisation for a declaration of war against Carthage to be made when the First Consul judges the time right."

My memory fails me, but I presume the motion was passed, otherwise I would have been impeached.

Senators, I believe our time would best be used discussing the Republic's next steps, not dwelling on the past. The example of the conquest of Sicily shows that events may occur by the mid-term of a First consul's office that lead First Consuls to rethink their plans. August Verginius has now encountered such a situation. Our task in these few days is to consider his re-assessment of the situation and, in particular, his request for authorising war on Iberia.

[x-dANGEr]

Senators, senators..

I second the motions:

Motion 6.7 : We will ally ourselves with the Illyrians at any cost, also offering to declare war on their enemy the kingdom of Macedon.

Motion 6.8: This house instructs the First Consul, after raiding Bourges, to return all Roman troops back to the Republic. The raided Gallic settlements of Gergovia and Comata are to be left as buffers between us and Iberia and Germany. This motion invalidates motions 6.1, 6.3 and 6.4.


And withdraw my support of Motion 6.1, 6.3.

First, I wish you all to reason, and look at the table to plan what's next, rather than what's before. The news approached me that a Roman woman was tortured in Sparta, and then killed by a greek merchant, that for his deeds, hadn't got cursed, but praised. And so, I stare at you, wondering what will you disregard next! Now, we start with a humilation of the Republic under the hands of a filthy merchant, and the next thing we know, a city is down to those rivals and we shake no arms for it. Wake up, Senators! One last cry came out of that woman's mouth, with woe titled all over it, "Death for the glory of the Republic..", yes. A woman gave away her soul for her belief in the Republic, and what do we do?

Vibius Pleminius walks a few steps back and forth.

WHAT DO WE DO? We stand here, cry at each other, cursing and challenging, giving no care or importance to a Roman woman that believed in us. It fails me how such great, courageous and brave men would, let me get it right, 'disregard this deed, and put the level of mind over that of heart'. I urge you my Senators, to make me fulfil the price of that woman's soul, with blood from every greek warrior I stumble upon.

Iberia and Carthage are of now no threat to us, for they both are fighting each other, and to attack one of them is to strengthen the other. The Germans to the north should fall for the prey before their eyes. The last 2 Gallic cities should remain a bait for the Germans, may a war start between them and the Iberians.

And at the ease end of all this, I need to remind you all that, to take the death of a Roman woman - who praised her death to the Republic - lightly, is to betray the essence of our principles. Principle we use to work our life through that hard path to glory, to the glory of the Republic.

[TinCow]

My memory fails me, but I presume the motion was passed, otherwise I would have been impeached.

Your memory does not fail you Senator, but you forget that nearly the entire elective process in 278 was invalid. Of the nine motions that were put before this body, it was publicly known that but a single one of them received a second. This is no mere technicality, this is a Senatorial necessity which must be met before a motion can be accepted for voting. We have subsequently considered it of such importance that we now require two seconds before a motion can pass. Yet, the Motion to which you refer was improperly and illegally put to a vote by the Senate Scribe. Since the Motion never qualified for voting in the first place, whether it subsequently passed or failed it entirely irrelevant. I am threatened with impeachment over a decision that was entirely legal and within my power and yet this blatant violation of Senate law goes totally unnoticed.

I find this highly inappropriate, Senator. This is a place of civilized discussion. You need to be able to take criticism without resorting to violent threats.

Criticism I can take. The words of Lucius Aemilius in particular were nothing of the sort. He blatantly accused me of suffering "delusions of grandeur" and he has repeatedly implied that I have actively endangered the Republic with my actions. These statements go far beyond acceptable Senatorial debate. Given that I have a reputation to uphold...



...there is no way I can ignore or let pass such accusations. If you will not withdraw your comments nor engage in a private resolution of this dispute, I will be forced to turned to the Court under a charge of slander. No Roman may make such comments about me and expect them to be ignored!

[econ21]

[QUINTUS]: Oh dear, it appears that the First Consul also wants to legislate retrospectively. The motions of 278BC were entirely constitutional, having been seconded by anonymous senators. The fact that we have since moved to restricting seconding to a select few named senators in no way renders illegal proceedings that were made under earlier rules.

Gentlemen, let us cease these specious arguments on points of law and outbursts of pique. There are substantive matters of state to discuss. We should not waste time with these distractions.

[Silver Rusher]

In light of two events that have recently taken place regarding Pro-Consul Augustus Verginius, I would like to propose two motions:

Motion 6.10: This house proposes that, in honour of Augustus Verginius' astonishing victory and bravery against the Gauls in the Battle of Bononia, the city of Bononia shall be from now on known as Verginia in all Senate deliberations.

Motion 6.11: This house proposes that, due to the controversy surrounding the First Consul's decision to give several settlements to the Germanians, it be made constitutional law that the exchange of settlements must be outlined in Senate motions from now on.

I also second motions 6.6 and 6.7. The lands of the Balkan peninsular offer great prospects for Rome, with their high level of development and culture fairly similar to ours. We should gain a huge economic advantage from these lands.

[Glaucus]

I grow weary of all this talk of law and constitution. I have my opinions, yes, but have already voiced them and will spare you the trouble of listening again.

Instead, let us address Iberia and Germania. As I have demonstrated earlier, with 3 border forts we could ensure that Germans never come into our lands. Not that they would, they have never expanded before in our history. Check the senate archive if you doubt me. Iberia is almost finished with Carthage at Carthago Nova, there will have to expand somewhere. I know the scribes grow tired of the many motions tabled this session, but I feel I must put forth one more, a compromise of sorts:

Motion 6.12: This house details the movement of our military forces in Gaul:
A - This house proposes that Consular Army 1 sets sail for and captures Palma, a Carthaginian island south of Massilia. (Also preventing Iberian expansion in the Med.)
B-This house Proposes that Legio III build 3 border forts and spreads her troops out between the forts, to block any enemies journying south.
C-This house Proposes Legio I reamains in southern Gaul, ready to attack Narbo should Iberia act aggresivly toward us.