Born in 1813, died in 1879; Editor of the Dublin University Magazine 1836-1838; noted as a lawyer; elected to Parliament in 1852; defended the Fenians 1865-69; elected to Parliament 1871, where he remained leader of the Home Rule party until 1877.
My duty is to endeavor to show to your lordships reasons why you ought not to adopt the provisions of the Bill now before your lordships for regulating the municipalities of Ireland, so far as they destroy the rights, confiscate the property, and abrogate the charters of the City of Dublin.
The petitions which have been presented, my lords, briefly state the case. Your lordships will perceive that it is a case involving both private rights and public interests; and I do confess that this very circumstance makes me feel no little embarrassment in addressing you. My lords, I will first call your attention to this Bill as divided into two parts: it is a Bill of disfranchisement, and a Bill of enfranchisement,It begins by sweeping away every existing right
- ↑ From his speech at the Bar of the House of Lords May 15, 1840. Mr. Butt, who was then a noted leader at the Irish Bar, had been selected by the Corporation of Dublin as the junior barrister to make this plea.
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