When, notwithstanding those distributions, the high price of grain occasioned chiefly by piracy produced so oppressive a dearth in Rome as to lead to a violent tumult in the streets in 679, extraordinary purchases of Sicilian grain on account of the government relieved for the time the most severe distress; and a corn-law brought in by the consuls of 681 regulated for the future the purchases of Sicilian grain and furnished the government, although at the expense of the provincials, with better means of obviating similar evils.

But the less material points of difference also--the restoration of the tribunician power in its old compass, and the setting aside of the senatorial tribunals-- ceased not to form subjects of popular agitation; and in their case the government offered more decided resistance.

The dispute regarding the tribunician magistracy was opened as early as 678, immediately after the defeat of Lepidus, by the tribune of the people Lucius Sicinius, perhaps a descendant of the man of the same name who had first filled this office more than four hundred years before; but it failed before the resistance offered to it by the active consul Gaius Curio.

In 680 Lucius Quinctius resumed the agitation, but was induced by the authority of the consul Lucius Lucullus to desist from his purpose.

The matter was taken up in the following year with greater zeal by Gaius Licinius Macer, who-- in a way characteristic of the period--carried his literary studies into public life, and, just as he had read in the Annals, counselled the burgesses to refuse the conscription.
Attacks on the Senatorial Tribunals Complaints also, only too well founded, prevailed respecting the bad administration of justice by the senatorial jurymen.
The condemnation of a man of any influence could hardly be obtained.
Not only did colleague feel reasonable compassion for colleague, those who had been or were likely to be accused for the poor sinner under accusation at the moment; the sale also of the votes of jurymen was hardly any longer exceptional.