The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-07-19
NUMBER IL.
Romance in the House Antique Relief
Bill Passed.

Among the Senate bills taken from
the Speakers table lately was one far
the relief of Miss Sarah :. Stafford. The
bill was to pay her for the services al
her father, Lieut.. James Bayard STAFF
ford, an officer Of the navy of the Revo-
luton. Miss Stafford, who is seventy
one years of age, resides at Trenton. y
J. Her memorial was presented to the
Senate, and on May !, 1872, Mr.. Pool
submitted report on the case, which
fully set forth the valuable services per-
formed by Lieut.. Stafford i'm the war of
the Revolution. Among other things.
ne was the secret messenger from the
American Government TO Col Laurens.
EmOassador To Holland, who had been
taken prisoner and confined in the
rover OF London. He performed this
uuty faithfully, but never received any
pay Tor the service. He was volunteer
Ollleer on the Bon HOmme and Richard
ana was severely wounded i'm an en-
gagement with British cruiser. As he
was a volunteer officer, his name was
not on the rolls, and his daughter would
receive no pay for that service.
Miss Stafford first presented her claim
twenty-five years ago. A bill for her
relief would pass one House and then
another, bat concurrent action could
never be obtained. 4 few davs AGO the
Dill passed the Senate and was sent To
the House, where it was taken IN to-day
as above stated. As soon rs the reading
OF the bill and report was commenced
TINS afternoon, Miss Stafford, who Occu-
pied front seat i'm the ladies gallery
could not restrain her excitement. and
showed such signs Of emotion that a I
door-kceper was Obliged to stand bv her
side to keep her quiet The old lady (
would rise upon her feet, aud. through
her tears would look impIoriucIv upou
the members below, and then would sit
down. and laying her head upon her
hands would for moment weep most
bitterly. she had spoken TO many
members of the House about her claim.
and the fact of her presence in the ,roI- .
lery no doubt aided in leading to the
final result the almost unanimous pas-
sage OF the bill. Miss stafford could not
at first realize her success, until Mr..
BuilintOni Mr.. Hill, and other gentle
men, by Il waive OF the hand, rcassur,d
her; whereupOn the old lady waved hpr
handkerchief in Acknowledgement The
members could not resist this demons
stration, and they responded nv loud an
plausc and clapping of hands. Miss
Stafford could contain herself no longer.
and falling upon her knees i'm the gal
leryI she offered up a fcrVent PRAYER of
uhankiulness and gratitude. She was
so much excited that she could only
move with assistance, and one of tile
door-keepers led her to a committee
Toom where she was enabled to compose
herself The bill now only reouires tbo
Presidents signature to become a law
The amount Of money the petitioner
Will receive is eight thousand dollars.
ahd she says 1t IS perfect God-send to
her, as, unless the bill had passed. She
would have been compelled to 20 to the
pOor-hOuse. She was visited in the
committee-rOOm by several members of I
congress, who congratulated her on her .
good fortune. The old lady was for
merly in good circumstances, but a few
years ago she was robbed of twelve .
thousand dollars. The incident was a
novel one in the House, and the old
lady's Impressive manner and excite I
ment will not soon he forgotten by those I
who witnessed it, HOM0l,'S Journal.