Speech by Noah (Soggy) Sweat before Congress late 1940s

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Speech by Noah (Soggy) Sweat before Congress late 1940s

Unread postby Mike » Wed Dec 23, 2015 5:57 pm

My friends, I had not intended to discuss this controversial subject at this particular time. However, I want you to know that I do not shun controversy. On the contrary, I will take a stand on any issue at any time, regardless of how fraught with controversy it might be. You have asked me how I feel about whiskey. All right, this is how I feel about whiskey:

If when you say whiskey you mean the devil's brew, the poison scourge, the bloody monster, that defiles innocence, dethrones reason, destroys the home, creates misery and poverty, yea, literally takes the bread from the mouths of little children; if you mean the evil drink that topples the Christian man and woman from the pinnacle of righteous, gracious living into the bottomless pit of degradation, and despair, and shame and helplessness, and hopelessness, then certainly I am against it.

But, if when you say whiskey you mean the oil of conversation, the philosophic wine, the ale that is consumed when good fellows get together, that puts a song in their hearts and laughter on their lips, and the warm glow of contentment in their eyes; if you mean Christmas cheer; if you mean the stimulating drink that puts the spring in the old gentleman's step on a frosty, crispy morning; if you mean the drink which enables a man to magnify his joy, and his happiness, and to forget, if only for a little while, life's great tragedies, and heartaches, and sorrows; if you mean that drink, the sale of which pours into our treasuries untold millions of dollars, which are used to provide tender care for our little crippled children, our blind, our deaf, our dumb, our pitiful aged and infirm; to build highways and hospitals and schools, then certainly I am for it.

This is my stand. I will not retreat from it. I will not compromise.
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rage at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light. - Dylan Thomas
Mike
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Re: Speech by Noah (Soggy) Sweat before Congress late 1940s

Unread postby Squire » Fri Dec 25, 2015 11:02 am

Minor correction Mike, the speech was delivered to the Mississippi House of Representatives, on, I believe, his last day in office there. I had the honor of knowing Judge Sweat and appearing in his Court, the guy was a legend.
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Re: Speech by Noah (Soggy) Sweat before Congress late 1940s

Unread postby Mike » Sun Dec 27, 2015 9:53 pm

Squire wrote:Minor correction Mike, the speech was delivered to the Mississippi House of Representatives, on, I believe, his last day in office there. I had the honor of knowing Judge Sweat and appearing in his Court, the guy was a legend.


Thanks for the correction, Squire. Indeed, he deserved to be a legend.
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rage at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light. - Dylan Thomas
Mike
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Posts: 2231
Joined: Tue Feb 15, 2005 5:36 pm
Location: Savannah, GA

Re: Speech by Noah (Soggy) Sweat before Congress late 1940s

Unread postby mhatzung » Wed Jan 06, 2016 12:15 pm

I read this a while back and had forgotten about it. I love this.

Thanks for posting it so I could enjoy it again. I have printed copies to hand to some coworkers.
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