"Following the passing of Military Creation Act, as well as the battle of Geonosis, this Senate will vote on whether to utilize the clone army against the CIS." Mas Amedda said before the senate.
Following the disaster at geonosis, and the rapid expansion of the CIS into republic space, the senate convened in an emergency session to decide if this new mysterious army should be used to fulfill the MCA or if they need to recruit from the local militaries of individual words. The Republic needed this army deployed now, but senators like Padme Amidala, Bail Organa, and Mon Mothma objected and called for a vote, using the fact that its a slave army to try and block their use. While they didn't have enough pull to stop their use outright they could force a vote. Ordinarily, the use of slaves would be rejected by most of the senate, but the fact that they are clones and the threat of the separatists military has scared most of the senators who'd usually fight against it.
"Jedi Masters Yoda, Mace Windu, and Plo Koon have requested to say a few words before the vote, seeing as it was the Jedi who found, reported, and deployed the Clones, and apparently ordered them, we have decided to let them speak." Palpatine said, reminding the senate of just where the clones came from, while also not so subtlety shifting the slavery accusations towards the jedi.
"Thank you, we do, Chancellor. Many words to say, but little time to do so, we have." Yoda spoke, "Brave the clones are, skilled as well, excellent soldiers they'd make. But slaves, they are. Clones they may be, but sentient they are, not like droids, but people born into servitude. True it is, that Jedi master Sifo Dyas ordered the creation of the clones, were he got the funds for it, know we do not. Investing we are, but regardless, a jedi ordered the creation of millions of slaves, to fight a war only he saw coming, approve of this, we do not." Yoda looked visibly disturbed, as the thought of one of their own falling so far shook him in ways he hadn't been in decades.
Mace Windu picked up as Yoda paused to think. "By Republic law, all slaves who enter our space are freed immediately, and this includes clones, in the past the jedi order has lead investigations into corporations that used clones as organ factories, and while this Senate has always been hesitant when it comes to clone rights, in all past decisions, both this Senate and the Courts agree that sentient life is afforded equal rights and protections regardless of what they are or how they came to be."
Plo Koon picked up, "When Master Yoda lead the clones to geonosis to relieve the strike team and rescue any survives of that disaster, he asked for volunteers only, and sadly as this is what they were breed for, he had no shortage of them. Following the battle, we pressed the kaminoans for more details in regards to the clones, and we were informed that ownership of them was in the Jedi orders name, not the republics or even Sifo Dyas' name, but in ours."
"Unacceptable this is, for the jedi order to own slaves. Equally unacceptable, for the Republic, it is. As legal owner of all clones still on kamino, free them, the High Council has. As all slaves in the Republic, freed automatically, they've been, force them to fight, we cannot. You cannot." Yoda said pointedly, glaring at the most outspoken senators who favored using the clones rather then the natural born soldiers that made up their PDFs.
Mace picked up again. "We outnumber the CIS in all ways; be it population, economics, or industry. The scattered PDFs and militias of the Republic outnumber the droid army over 1000 to 1, we simply needs time to gather, train, and deploy them. We've spoken to many of the clones, and a large amount of them have volunteered to join us jedi in steming the tide, and we will fight to give you the time you need to raise a proper army."
Plo Koons voice echoed across the senate chamber, amplified by the force and his own mask. "Make no mistake, the Republic will raise a proper army, the clones will NOT be forced to fight. Should this senate vote to once again enslave the men we've just freed, in violation of thousands of years of Republic law, court decisions, and even the Republic charter itself, then the Jedi order will execute its long standing mandate to remove governments that enslave Republic citizens. Even if that means removing this Senate."
A stunned silence overtook the senate, before cries of outrage broke out. Mas Amedda attempted to restore order but it was Chancellor Palpatine whose voice cut through the outrage.
"Master Jedi, that's treason. You cannot be seriously threatening to overthrow the Republic who've sworn an outh to serve. Especially not since you've become military officers." Palpatine said in mock outrage, secretly gleeful that the jedi were shooting themselves in the foot while also worrying at where they were going with this.
"Treason? No not treason. Overthrow the Republic, we will not, but arrest all those involved with the enslavement of the clones, should you force them to fight, we will. From the lowest senate aid to even you Chancellor, arrest all involved, we will, on charges of sentient trafficking, enslavement, and other relevant charges." Yoda firmly declared.
Plo Koon drew attention back to himself while saying, "For 10 thousand years this Republic has fought to free slaves and protect the rights of sentient life, with the Jedi order often leading this charge, if this Senate votes to enslave more then 1 million sentient beings, then acting on 10 thousand years of republic law and legal precedent, we will arrest all involved and enforce the mandate this body has granted us. Even if it means arresting many of you. Needless to say we don't want to do that, the removal of so many sitting senators in a time of crisis would causes countless issues, but the Jedi Order will not stand idle while this Republic enslaves innocent beings."
Mace Windu took over again, "We have served the Republic and her people for millenia, and will continue to due so for millenia more. To preserve the Republic and her values." He paused before all three Jedi Masters spoke as one, the Force reverberating from their words.
"We will do what we must."
