The Roman Republic
aplebiscitum,whichwasfollowedbyavoteoftheSenate(Livy,,–).In
theSenatevotedforwaragainstPhilipV,andtheconsul,SulpiciusGalba,
put a bill (rogatio)proposing war to the centuriate assembly. But a tribune
oftheplebshadmadepublicspeechesagainstwarandaccusedtheSenate.
The proposal was rejected; when it was subsequently passed, it was aftera
speechtothepeoplebytheconsul(Livy,,–,).Inemissariesfrom
FlamininusarrivedintheSenatewithproposedtermsforpeacewithPhilip.
TheSenateapproved,butthenewlyelectedconsul,M.ClaudiusMarcellus,
wantingthechancetofightinGreecehimself,soPolybiussays,spokeagainst
peacebeforethepeople.Theynonethelessacceptedtheterms,andtheSen-
ate sent ten emissaries to carry them out (Pol. , , –; cf. Livy , ,
–).Inapraetor,M’.IuventiusThalna,madeaspeechproposingtothe
peoplethedeclarationofwaronRhodes,onlytobedraggedfromtheRostra
bythetribuneAntonius(Pol.,,–).Itisinrelationtothisepisodethat
LivystatesthatthebillhadbeenintroducedwithoutavoteoftheSenate,
butthatthetribuneshadbeenreluctanttovetoit;foritwasthecustomnot
tovetoaproposedlawuntilprivateindividualshadhadtheopportunityof
speakingforandagainstit(,).
Iwillcomebacklatertothequestionoftherealityorotherwiseofpublic
debateinRome.ButIwouldemphasizeheretheimportanceofpublican-
nouncementandreportbyoffice-holderstothepeopleonmattersofwarand
foreignaffairs.WhentheSenatehaddecreedtheenrolmentoftroops,the
consulwouldmakehisannouncementofthecall-upbeforeapublicmeeting
(e.g.,Livy,,).Ononeoccasion,in,whenanappealagainstcall-up
wasmadetothetribunesoftheplebsbytwenty-threeformercenturions,the
issuewasdebatedbeforeapublicmeetingofthepeople.IfwefollowLivy’s
account(,,–,),speechesweremadebyanex-consul,bytheconsul
oftheyear,andbyaformercenturion,andtheappealwasthendropped.
A consul might also address the people on the subject of a war before
leavingforhiscommand,asAemiliusPaullusdidin(Livy,,–;see
Pol.,),ormightreturntoreportonthesituationinapublicmeeting,as
didClaudiusPulcherin(Livy,,).Whenavictoryhadbeenwon,
thecommander’slettermightbereadfirstintheSenateandtheninapublic
meeting,aswithFlamininus’letterin(Livy,,).Morecommonly
the emissaries sent by thevictorious general are described as appearing in
the Senate and then as being brought before a public meeting—that is, as
comingoutfromtheSenatehousetotheRostraafewyardsaway,tomake
aspeechreportingthevictorytothepeople.^11
. E.g.,Livy,,–;,,;,,–.