The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-03-21

his friends-no doubt indiscreetly-made on
the following day an affidavit for the purpose
of obtaining search-warrant to recover the
money which had been stolen from him. In
that affidavit there is nothing disclosed in re-
gard to this transaction at all. He simply
makes affidavit that he had been robbed OF
some forty-fve dollars in money; and he
makes this statement for the purpose of OBJ
tanning search-warrant, having no thought
of an examination before the justice. What
was the result? This woman obtained coun-
sci, who upon examination drew out the facts
upon which the charges against him were
based. This disclosure was made through
the efforts of the counsel defending the woman
against the charge OF theft, and not through
the voluntary statement of Little.
Nov you will find on examining the record
OF the court that C.ptain Little was not found
guilty, or sentenced to be dismissed. on the
ground of having committed any immoral act
walked upon the public streets with common
prostitute. While it would be far from me.
Mr. Chairman, to lower the high standard Of
morals which should prevail in the army,
may ask, who can ''cast the first stone ?"
This brave officer may in moment of indis-
cretion have listened to the SIRENS voice; but,
let me ask, how many willing ears have, not
once only, but perhaps many times, yielded to
her seductive whisperings.
l tell you, Mr.. Chairman and members Of
this house, the charges against this officer are
frivolous and trihing when weighed with his
honored record in the service of his country.
They are the offspring of prejudice against
a volunteer officer. Although Thomas Little
has not the power of wealth or the influence
of high official position to back him in asking
his restoration to the army, yet there is not
one of his comrades in arms, not one of the
brave soldiers who served by his side, that
does not speak OF him in terms of the highest
com .nendation, and he can point to his un-
blemished record as a soldier in vindication
of his demands for justice. Twice wounded.
twice brevetted for gallant and meritorious
conduct-at the selge of Vicksburgh seriously
wounded, passing through the entire war with
credit and with honor-has he not, Mr.. Chair
man, a record demanding the respect of this
body?
If the roll-call of heroes, if the roll-call of
brave men who served in the late war was
sounded to-day, Thomas Little would stand in
the front rank, among the bravest of the brave.
Sir, during his long service, wherever danger
showed itself he was one of the first to face
and dare it. He served during the Florida
war, throughout the late war, and against the
Indians upon our frontiers. BY merit and
valor he rose from private soldier in the
ranks to a captain in the regular army. In
deed, sir, if he has any objectionable sin, if he
has any fault, it would seem to be only in the
fact that he sprung from the common people,
and by his own unaided exertions made him.
self the brave, the gallant and meritorious SOL
dier that he is. This no one dare gainsay. His
record is before you. With tina, record, hav-
ing no one except my humble Sell to speak in
his defense, he presents himself before you,
and asks you to examine, TO scan it, spotless
and unstained as it is. and to do him justice.
Why, Mr.. Chairman, he has been soldier
from his boyhood. He came here soldier
from the English army in early manhood, and
entered the United States army as private
twenty-four or twenty-five years ago.
Now, let me say one word in explanation OF
the deep interest take in this case. 1t is
Of his worth, and because | conscientiously
believe that he has been grossly wronged. I
know his dismissal from the army has been
the greatest stab. the deepest wound he has
ever received. Although his body is over
SCARED with wounds received while defending
the flag of his adopted country, yet this dis
missal is the deepest wound of all inflicted
upon that gallant and noble officer. Although
driven from the army penniless, without pro-
fession or calling, having dependent uron him
for their support an aged mother, a wife and
seven little Children soldier by education,
knowing nothing but the honor and duties of a
soldier, yet since his dismissal from the army
he has exhibited as high a degree of moral
bravery as he did physical bravery when he
faced danger in the time of battle. He has
been temperate and circumspect in his con-
duct, and has won the respect and confidence
of the community in which he has lived; his
character has been honest and upright as
citizen and a soldier. Although driven to
hard labor. even to chopping wood, as am
told, in order to obtain support for his little
while suffering from wounds and
and bitter wrongs, no act of dishonor or
shame has marked his life since his dismissal
from the Army. He appeals to you now as
the only tribunal to which he can resort for
Justice, and in that appeal he holds up his re-
cord, spotless and unstaned, both as soldier
and as citizen in private life, to speak in his
behalf.
The charges, so far as they are sustained by
the facts, are too frivolous and groundless to
or justify the severe punishment which
has been inflicted upon him, and, in my judg
ment, are the offspring of spite, against this
poor, ill-treated, and outraged officer who
should be restored to the position from which
he was unustly dismissed.
have accepted the substitute that there
might be no objection to its passage, and
cannot believe there will be any hesitation on