27.10
The
consuls spoke in reassuring terms to the senate. They declared that the other
colonies were as loyal and dutiful as ever, and even those colonies which had
forgotten their duty would learn to respect the empire if representatives of
the government were sent amongst them, with words of admonishment and
rebuke, not of supplication or entreaty. The senate left it to the consuls to
take such action as they deemed best in the interests of the State. After
sounding the temper of the other colonies, they summoned their delegates to
Rome and questioned them as to whether they had soldiers in readiness in
accordance with the terms of their constitution. M. Sextilius of Fregellae,
acting as spokesman for the eighteen colonies, replied that the stipulated
number of soldiers were ready for service; if more were needed they would
furnish more, and do their utmost to carry out the wishes and commands of
the Roman people. They had no insufficiency of resources, they had more
than a sufficiency of loyalty and goodwill. The consuls told them in reply that
they felt they could not praise their conduct as they deserved unless the
senate as a body thanked them, and with this, bade them follow them into the
House. A resolution was adopted by the senate and read to them, couched in
the most complimentary and laudatory terms possible. The consuls were then
charged to introduce them to the Assembly and, among the other splendid
services which they had rendered to them and their ancestors, to make
special mention of this fresh obligation which they had conferred on the
Republic. Though so many generations have passed away, their names ought
not to be passed over in silence nor their due meed of praise withheld.
Signia, Norba, Saticula, Fregellae, Lucerium, Venusia, Brundisium, Hadria,
Formae and Ariminum; on the Tyrrhenian Sea, Pontia, Paestum, Cosa; and
the inland colonies, Beneventum, Aesernum, Spoletum, Placentia and
Cremona -these were the colonies by whose aid and succour the dominion
of Rome was upheld, it was these who were publicly thanked in the senate
and before the Assembly. The senate forbade all mention of the other
colonies who had proved false to the empire; the consuls were to ignore their
representatives, neither retaining them nor dismissing them nor addressing
them, but leaving them severely alone. This silent rebuke seemed most in
accordance with the dignity of the Roman people. The other preparations for
war now occupied the attention of the consuls. It was decided that the
"vicesimary gold" which was kept as a reserve for extreme emergencies in
the secret treasury should now be brought out. Four thousand pounds of
gold were produced. Of this 550 pounds were given to each of the consuls
and to the proconsuls M. Marcellus and P. Sulpicius. A similar amount was
given to the praetor L. Veturius, who had drawn in the lottery the province
of Gaul, and a special grant of 100 pounds was placed in the hands of the
consul Fabius, to be carried into the citadel of Tarentum. The rest was made
use of in purchasing, for cash at contract prices, clothing for the army in
Spain, whose successful operations were enhancing their own and their
general's reputation.