New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-06-13

years. AMiNUNtNHAt8~-AAA AMN0A@9AA"G
and Novel Scene IA the House q
Representatives.
Prom the Washington Patriot.l
An interesting scene was witnessed in the
House Of Representatives yesterday after
noon. The House was engaged in the con
alteration Of bills from the Senate on the
Speakers table. When bill was reached
entitled "an act for the relief of Sarah S.
Stafford, y an old lady, who had all day
long occupied a seat in the ladies' gallery,
rose from her seat, and showed such signs
OF emotion aud excitement that door
keeper was obliged to stand by her side to
keen her quiet while the bill and the report
up0n the case were being read. The lady
was Miss Sarah s. Stafford, who had peh-
toned for payment for the services Of her
father Lieutenant James Bayard Stafford,
an officer Of the navy Of the revolution.
Miss Stafford is seventy-One years of age,
and resides at Trenton, New Jersey. Her
memorial was presented to the Senate, and
on May ], 1879, Mr.. Pool submitted re-
port on the case, in which was fully set
forth the valuable services performed by
Lieutenant Stafford in the war of the reYO-
lufion.
Among other things, he was the secret
messenger from the American government
70 Colonel LaurenH, ambassador to Holland,
who had been taken prisoner and confined
this duty faithfully, but never received any
pay for the service. He was volunteer
officer on board the Bon HOmme Richard,
and was severely wounded in an engage
ment with a British cruiser. As he was a
volunteer officer, bis name was not on the
pay rolls, and mis- daughter could 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; but concurrent action
could never be obtained. A few days ago,
the bill passed the Senate and was sent to
the House, where it was taken up to-day as
above stated. During the reading the old
lady could scarcely contain herself, and at
shines gave way to tears She had spoken
70 many members Of the House about her
claim, and fhe fact Of her presence III the
gallery, no doubt, aided in leading TO the
final result-the almost unanimous passage
of the bill.
Miss Stafford could not at first realize
her success. until Messrs. Burlington, Hill
and other gentlemen, by. "a wave Of the
hand, treasured her, whereupOn the old
lady waved her handkerchief in acknowl
edgement. The members could not resist
this denomination, and they responded by
loud applause and clapping Of hands. Miss
Stafford could contain herself no longer,
and falling upon her knees in the gallery,
she offered up fervent prayer Of thank
1uiness and gratitude, She was so much
excited that she could only move with as
sistance, and one Of the dOorkeepers led
her to a committee room, where she was en-
abled to compose herself. The bill now
only requires the Presidents signature to
become law. The amount Of money the
petitioner viii receive is $4,000, and she
says It is a perfect God-send to her, as I'M
less the bill had passed she would have
been compelled TO 60 to the poorhouse.
She was visited in the committee room by
several members Of Congress, who con-
graduated her on her good fortune.