Both plans having been sufficiently made proof of, the consuls at length said:  “Conscript fathers, that you may not say that you have not been forewarned, know that a great disturbance is at hand.  We demand that those who accuse us most loudly of cowardice shall assist us when holding the levy; we will proceed according to the resolution of the most intrepid among you, since it so pleases you.”  Returning to their tribunal, they purposely commanded one of the leaders of the disturbance, who were in sight, to be summoned by name.  When he stood without saying a word, and a number of men stood round him in a ring, to prevent violence being offered, the consuls sent a lictor to seize him, but he was thrust back by the people.  Then, indeed, those of the fathers who attended the consuls, exclaiming against it as an intolerable insult, hurried down from the tribunal to assist the lictor.  But when the violence of the people was turned from the lictor, who had merely been prevented from arresting the man, against the fathers, the riot was quelled by the interposition of consuls, during which, however, without the use of stones or weapons, there was more noise and angry words than actual injury inflicted.  The senate, summoned in a tumultuous manner was consulted in a manner still more tumultuous, those who had been beaten demanding an inquiry, and the most violent of them attempting to carry their point, not so much by votes as by clamour and bustle.  At length, when their passion had subsided, and the consuls reproached them that there was no more presence of mind in the senate than in the forum, the matter began to be considered in order.  Three different opinions were held.  Publius Verginius was against extending relief to all.  He voted that they should consider only those who, relying on the promise of Publius Servilius the consul, had served in the war against the Volscians, Auruncans, and Sabines.  Titus Larcius was of opinion, that it was not now a fitting time for services only to be rewarded:  that all the people were overwhelmed with debt, and that a stop could not be put to the evil, unless measures were adopted for the benefit of all:  nay, further, if the condition of different parties were different discord would thereby rather be inflamed than healed.  Appius Claudius, being naturally of a hard disposition, and further infuriated by the hatred of the commons on the one hand, and the praises of the senators on the other, insisted that such frequent riots were caused not by distress, but by too much freedom:  that the people were rather insolent than violent:  that this mischief, in fact, took its rise from the right of appeal; since threats, not authority, was all that remained to the consuls, while permission was given to appeal to those who were accomplices in the crime.  “Come,” added he, “let us create a dictator from whom there lies no appeal, and this madness, which has set everything ablaze, will immediately subside.  Then let me see the man who will dare to strike a lictor, when he shall know that that person, whose authority he has insulted, has sole and absolute power to flog and behead him.”