Curia Session V - 194 BC

[Proculus Lucius Regulus]

Article I confuses me. What is the rationale behind limiting the armies of provinces? If the province and our republic can afford it, I see no need to limit the garrisons of a province. Besides, one Socii legion in peacetime would not be sufficient against a surprise attack in the Hispanias. As well, in Sardinia in past decades, there have been massive revolts of tens of thousands of men. I question the necessity. This article of the measure seems detrimental and unneeded, but I see nothing wrong with the rest of the Lex (except for the fact that this is somewhat how business is already conducted, and it could be perceived as redundant.)

[Gaius Claudius Nero Liguricus]

Senator Nero rises and faces the Consul before speaking

I would like to thank the good Consul Cassius Vecellinus for amending and presenting this proposal. It indeed accurately represents my draft proposal sent to him.

Nero turns to the rest of the Senate to address them

Conscript Fathers,

These last debates have brought up a variety of issues with our recent system of protecting our provinces of Hispania, most notably the financial strain it is imposing on our Treasury. As such, I feel that this proposal will rectify these issues by ensuring that the military defences of Hispania pivot from the Promagistrate governors, to the Consul and Proconsuls of Rome. This way, we won't be spending millions for Legions to Hispania each year unnecessarily, and instead rely on raising a Consular army in the event a large threat to the Republic is identified.

To answer Senator Regulus' concerns regarding Article I, the primary reason for the restriction was to incorporate elements of Consul Vecellinus' original proposal of limiting the Promagistrate forces to two Socii Legions as I felt they were well founded, however should it not be liked, we can always change it. To reiterate however, the purpose of restricting it was to pivot away from governors leading campaigns to Consuls and Proconsuls. Should a grave enough threat present itself, we would instead raise a Consular army to combat them with.

[Marcus Decius Bellicus]

The Proxy rises

"Conscript fathers, this is yet another proposal that would not have solved any of the issues we have faced. The issue facing this body is not a lack of vision, it's a lack of willingness to spend money to defend the Republic and her people. We can pass lexia until our hands are clawed from the amount of writing we have done, and it would not change that one bit.

"The proxy for the Propraetor came to this body asking for authorization for a war and support for troops to conduct that war. This lex, nor the failed one before it, wouldn't have solved the unwillingness of a lot of this body to do anything that does not directly benefit them. Seeing as we continue, time and again, to retread the same argument, I ask the Consul to either move on to other topics or, if this is all that's on his mind, end today's session."

[Hostus Lucretius Tricipitinus]

The proxy for Lucretius Tricipitinus waited for his turn then stood:

"Conscript fathers,

While I understand the intentions behind the bills presented, I do not feel these are necessary and I am sure my friend Lucretius Triciptinus would not either. This bill locks the Republic into specific defenses that may or may not be needed, need to be expanded, or need a different make up than noted in article 1.

I also find articles 2, 3 and 4 to be unnecessary. The governors have the needed Imperium already, so there is no need for article 2 or 3. As for article 4, that is how the Senate works already.

I cannot support this measure as it is unnecessary and adds complications to what is an established and straight forward affair."

[Proculus Lucius Regulus]

To make war-waging a matter of strict, regulated law is foolish. War cannot be codified or predicted, nor can the requirements of that war. I promote codifying the article allowing governors more initiative and authority for the diplomacy and war fighting of their province, but the others seem inane, inadvisable, and redundant.

[Gaius Quinctilius Varus]

Quint. Quint. Quietus rises

Conscript Fathers,

I stand in agreement with good Lucretius Tricipitinus. This seems needlessly codified and dangerously restrictive. It simply doesn't need to exist.

[Marcus Decius Bellicus]

The Proxy for M. Decius Bellicus and his coterie cheer their support

[Gaius Cassius Vecellinus]

The Consul rises and turns to Gaius Claudius Nero.

Conscript father,

I do not believe you will find sufficient support in the Chamber for your motion and as such I will save us all some time and remove it from debate; however, there are some ideas in it which I believe are worth of being further discussed in future sessions, be it in my Consular year or another.

Raising his arms and addressing the Curia as a whole.

Magistrates, Senators, Romans!

It has been a long, exhausting, but relatively productive legislative and debating year; the Senate, nearly left unfunctional last year, is now once again a virtuous forum for discussion, voting and deciding the present and future of the Republic. This I say, even if some motions have been vetoed, as is normal, or the debate dragged on longer than it should have. While it seems a distant memory now, I would remind some that only a year ago a Consul, M. Decius Bellicus, was forced to abort his military operations for no other purpose but to restore the primacy of the Senate.

Barring it specifically being asked of me or a particular situation so requiring it, I have no intention of further introducing legislation, though I have no shortage of ideas, of calling another session until the end of the consular year. A number of Senators have discreetely conveyed to me that they are exhausted from the long and successive sessions and as such it is unlikely that any further sessions would be productive.

I wish to thank in particular those who have worked with me on the drafting of motions and those that supported my legislative action, and in general those who worked through the Senate, even while negatively voting the proposals, to push forward their points of view; this, in my opinion, is how a healthy Curia should be.

On an unrelated note, I wish to remind the present those who may be interested in a governorship should make their intentions known publicly until the end of the year as per Lex Cassia of 194 B.C. - Law for the Election of Provincial Magistrates.

Senátum nón teneó. (I do not hold the senate.)