President, by and with the advice and consent of
the Senate, to appoint all pension agents, who shall hold their
offices for the term of four years, and shall give bond," etc. At
the last session of congress a married woman in Chicago was
appointed for a third term pension agent for the State of
Illinois, and the public papers stated that there was not a
single vote against her confirmation in the Senate. Public
opinion is everywhere approving of such appointments. They
promote the public interest, which is benefitted by every
legitimate use of individual ability, while mere justice, which
is of interest to all, requires that all have the fullest
opportunity for the exercise of their abilities. These cases are
the more noteworthy as being cases of public offices, to which
the incumbent is appointed for a term of years, upon a
compensation provided by law, and in which he is required to give
bond. If an attorney is to be regarded as an officer, it is in a
lower sense.

We have had pressed upon us by the counsel opposed to the
applicant, the decisions of the courts of Massachusetts,
Wisconsin and Illinois, and the United States Court of Claims,
adverse to such an application. While not prepared to accede to
all the general views expressed in those decisions, we do not
think it necessary to go into a discussion of them, as we regard
our statute, in view of all the considerations affecting its
construction, as too clear to admit of any reasonable question as
to the interpretation and effect which we ought to give it.

In this opinion Carpenter and Loomis, Js., concurred; Pardee, J.,
dissented.

In 1884, the State society held a spirited and successful
convention.[167] Julia Smith gave an extemporaneous talk to the
great delight of the audience, who applauded continually; Mrs.
Crane, a fine elocutionist, gave a reading from Carlyle; Mrs.
Hooker closed with a brief resume of the work the society had
accomplished.

We are also indebted to Frances Ellen Burr for many facts, as the
following letter will show:

HARTFORD, September 17, 1885.

MY DEAR MISS ANTHONY: I have received your letter of inquiry. As
to that petition in 1867, I was one of the signers, and, probably
had something to do with getting the other signatures, though I