The consuls Caius Claudius, the son of Appius, and Publius Valerius Publicola, found the state in a more tranquil condition.

The new year had brought with it nothing new; the thoughts about carrying the law, or submitting to it, engrossed all the members of the state.

The more the younger members of the senate endeavoured to insinuate themselves into favour with the commons, the more strenuously did the tribunes strive to thwart them, so that they rendered them suspicious in the eyes of the commons by alleging: "that a conspiracy was formed; that Caeso was in Rome; that plans were concerted for assassinating the tribunes, and butchering the commons.

That the commission assigned by the elder members of the patricians was, that the young men should abolish the tribunitian power from the state, and the form of government should be the same as it had been before the sacred mount had been taken possession of." Both a war from the Volsci and AEqui, which was now a stated thing, and one that was a regular occurrence for almost every year, was apprehended, and another evil nearer home started up unexpectedly.

The exiles and slaves to the number of four thousand and five hundred men took possession of the Capitol and citadel during the night, under the command of Appius Herdonius, a Sabine.