On the Issue of Brutus and the Conspirators

My fellow Senators, I have always been proud to call myself a Roman citizen and senator and to associate myself with the others who have held this position as well. However I now find myself in shock over the actions of some of my fellow senators towards Julius Caesar. I cannot believe that Senators of Rome would lower themselves to the position of assassin, much less towards the leader and protector of Rome. You “Liberators” claim that you were seeking to overthrow a tyrant, but look at what your actions have caused. Yesterday in the Senate we reduced ourselves to arguing amongst each other instead of working towards restoring peace and stability in Rome. While our actions were regrettable those more recent ones of Marcus Aemilius Lepidus were completely horrific and almost as heinous as those of Brutus and his conspirators. However, I will not let my rage lead to rash actions as I am sure Lepidus allowed his emotions to. You so called “Liberators” wanted to protect Rome from a tyrant, yet your actions have caused panic and fear in all of Rome. Your actions have caused a man to march troops into our great city, not to restore the peace but to gain power and move himself closer to the now vacant position of dictator, which you so desperately wanted to be rid of.

If all of this were not enough we all took oaths to protect Caesar. Have you no pride in your own word? Did that mean nothing to you? Marcus Junius Brutus you speak of Caesar's downfall being declared dictator perpetuus, but was it not the Senate herself who declared this title upon Caesar. If this was so repulsive to you why did you not fight harder to deny him this. You and your conspirators were seeking to undo an action of this body. You claim you want to restore the Republic, but what were you doing but destroying it by acting out against the will of the Senate. Caesar has done nothing but care for the people and senators of Rome, especially you Brutus. He pardoned you after the Civil War, pushed for your election to public office, and helped you gain the power you have today. Yet how did you repay him, by acting as judge and jury, condemning him to death yourself. An action that can be considered tyrannical itself.

While some would call for the assassination or pardon of the assassins of Caesar I will leave the punishment of Brutus and his fellow conspirators to the courts, here they will be granted a fair trial with the opportunity to defend their actions. While this opportunity was not granted to Caesar by his assassins I will not lower myself to the position of the so called “Liberators” by taking matters into my own hands. I choose to act within the law of Rome, granting them the courtesies that they refused to Caesar. Even now as I grieve for Caesar and his accomplishments yet to come, I place my faith in the jury, the courts, and this Senate to give an appropriate punishment to the assassins of Gaius Julius Caesar, protector and father of the people of Rome.