Appius argued that this course of action amounted to cowardice, and that the Senate was submitting itself to oppression by the plebeians. But Quinctius' argument carried the day and the Senate agreed to allow the passage of the lex Publilia. Later in the year, Appius was given command of a Roman army, and sent to fight the Volsci. Stung by his defeat at the hands of the tribunes, the consul was determined to subject his army to the harshest discipline. But his disrespect for the plebeians was so notorious that his soldiers were openly insubordinate and disobedient. They refused to attack the enemy, instead retreating to their camp, and only turning against the Volscian forces when they were attacked themselves. His officers dissuaded Appius from taking immediate action against the soldiers, but the army was attacked again and fell into disarray as it left the camp. After reaching the safety of Roman territory, Appius gathered the remnants of his army, and ordered that all of the soldiers who had lost their equipment or standards, and all of the officers who had deserted their posts should be flogged and beheaded. He then punished the remainder of the army with decimation, the earliest instance of this particular punishment occurring in Roman history. In 470 BC, Appius opposed the agrarian law originally proposed by Spurius Cassius Viscellinus, and was summoned to answer for his conduct by the plebeian tribunes, Marcus Duilius and Gnaeus Siccius.
Appius argued that this course of action amounted to cowardice, and that the Senate was submitting itself to oppression by the plebeians. But Quinctius' argument carried the day and the Senate agreed to allow the passage of the lex Publilia. Later in the year, Appius was given command of a Roman army, and sent to fight the Volsci. Stung by their defeat at the hands of the tribunes, the consul was determined to subject his army to the harshest discipline. But their disrespect for the plebeians was so notorious that his soldiers were openly insubordinate and disobedient. They refused to attack the enemy, instead retreating to their camp, and only turning against the Volscian forces when they were attacked themselves. their officers dissuaded Appius from taking immediate action against the soldiers, but the army was attacked again and fell into disarray as it left the camp. After reaching the safety of Roman territory, Appius gathered the remnants of their army, and ordered that all of the soldiers who had lost their equipment or standards, and all of the officers who had deserted their posts should be flogged and beheaded. They then punished the remainder of the army with decimation, the earliest instance of this particular punishment occurring in Roman history. In 470 BC, Appius opposed the agrarian law originally proposed by Spurius Cassius Viscellinus, and was summoned to answer for his conduct by the plebeian tribunes, Marcus Duilius and Gnaeus Siccius.

