The old commonalty was no less anxious for the reelection of the tribunes than of the consuls; nor could the former be prevented by any interference from without. But M. Duilius, whose lot it was to preside at this election, declared that he would take no vote either for his collegues or himself. This resolution was met by one equally firm on the part of the old plebeians, not to vote for anybody except the tribunes who were going out: and their superiority in number to the newly admitted tribesmen was so decided, that the latter, and such individuals as may have joined them, could not supply more than five candidates with the requisite votes in the majority of the tribes. Now it being necessary that all proceedings of the plebs should be completed in one day, an election which had not furnisht the full number might have been held void; and those who were desirous to carry the reelection of the late tribunes insisted that it ought to be so: Duilius on the other hand maintained that it was enough if there were any tribunes elected to begin the new year, and that these had a legal right to fill up the vacant places. The people was forced to acquiesce in this decision: but the majority of the new tribunes, as might have been lookt for from the mode of their election, were so entirely devoted to the patricians, that among the new members with whom they made up the complement of their college, two were even taken from that order,—Sp. Tarpeius and A. Aternius, to whom, it is true however, the commonalty was indebted for their law to regulate fines.