Gaius Rabirius Postumus on the Acta

O Conscript Fathers,

I, Gaius Rabirius Postumus, must first apologize for my prior absences from the senate. Following the death of Caesar, I was much too shocked to participate in anything but mourning. Even now that I have regained my composure, I find myself shocked yet again; shocked by the actions and words of those sitting here amongst us. Caesar undoubtedly was a strong man and strong leader for the Republic. My relationship with Caesar stretches far back, both politically and personally. He and I had been business partners not only in Rome but throughout the Roman Empire. However, every great man and great thing has its downfalls. Although Caesar strengthened the Republic, he undertook inappropriate measures to become ingrained into the foundation of the Republic deeper than any single man should ever be. His military campaigns obtained wealth and land for the glory of Rome. But at what price? Must every citizen be subjugated beneath a tyrant simply to enjoy a healthy and strong Republic? There are those who claim the attack on Caesar was an attack on the Republic itself. Some would like to believe that the strike on Caesar was a strike at the heart of the Republic. I must disagree. The heart of the Republic lies in the people, not in any single man. As a man, Caesar was a dear friend to many of us. As a ruler, he was a threat to each and every one of us. Illustrious senators; out of the darkness comes the light and out of this tragedy comes our responsibility to carry the Republic in a new, brighter direction devoid of tyranny.

There is no question that some among us were granted their post merely to be lapdogs of Caesar. With your master gone, we shall see the true colors of you men. Will you climb into the lap of Marc Antony? Or will you stand for the Republic in the face of tyranny? My fellow senators, do not let history repeat itself so quickly. A tyrant should not rule from his grave. Nor should any man with questionable motives concerning the Republic be entrusted to relay a dead king’s acta. However, it would be foolish to simply discard these acta in a time of turmoil for the Republic. As has been suggested, we need to go over the acta and make our own judgments for which are harmful and which are helpful to the state of the Republic. In this time it is more crucial than ever that we act as a single body and compromise, for the good of the Republic.