The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-09-18

Margaret Brent was now. not only
mistress Of Governor Calvert's mansion,
but by n decree of the provincial court
she had become attorney for LORD BAL
timore, with control of all the reuts,
issues and profits of his estate. LORD
Baltimore did not know anything or
this, but that did not disturb Mistress
Brent.
Now, however, she was to allow her
Iaudacity TO carry her farther than ever
before and TO meet with her first de,
feat. She decided that she had as GOOD
ia claim as any one else to vote ln
the general assembly. Leonard Calvert,
as attorney for the proprietary lord, ha1
the right to vote, and now that Leonard
Calvert was dead and she was aGtlhg
attorney. she claimed the right to
vote Furthermore, she claimed that ms
Leonard Cllvcrt's g cxecutrix she was
entitled to another vote. In other WORDS
she demanded representation for tor-
cipn lord who had never authorized her
to act for him, and another for dead
man whose only instructions to her had
been, "Take all and pay all,
It was in January, l6aS, that MIS-
tress Brent made this astonishing stand
for woman s rights. She had ridden
her horse four miles from her home to
Fort st. John, where the genera as,
semblv met, and there was the light OF
a hoh purnose in her eye when she
entered tho assembly room. The mem
bera were expecting something OF the
sort and, while they were determined
not to grant her demand, were at loss
how they could well refuse. And Gov,
ernor Green was the most disconnected
of all. Vainly the assembly hedged her
about with rules and preccdents, and
tried to prevent her speaking. Bp'
speak she did and almost earned the
assemblare off its feet with her per
suasive reasoning, and but for the sud
den. found frmness of Governor Green
ever Jealous of her power, The planters
might have granted her request. II
/ has been SAID throughout the colony
that Calvert would have done better
had he made Margaret Brent his. sue,
cessor as governor md appointed
Thomas Green as his executor. Any
way, the usually vacillating Thomas
braccd himself for action. and as the
mustv records show, declared that 'the
lIsaid Mistress Brent should have no vote
lin the house. -
"The said Mistress Brent" as might
have been expected, made a most vlgor
Gus protest. oblecting vehemently to the
action Of the assembly. In tho archives
may be found this entry:
HJanuary 81, l647-4S, Came Mrs
Margaret Brent and requested to have
a vote in the howso for heTselfe ant
voyce also. for that att the last Cour
Bird Jan. it was ordered that the sai'
Mrs Brent was to be looked upon ant
received as his Ldps, Attorney. The
Govr denyed that the sd Mrs Bren
should have any vote in the howse
And the sd Mrs Brent protested
against all proceedings in this presen
Assembly unlesse shee may be presen
and have vote as aforsed.' -
1t was but a short time after thi
that Governor Green had to come T.
Margaret Brent for advice and help
Governor Calvert, when he raised troop
to put down the insurrection headed b,
Claiborne and Ingles, had promised t
: pay them in full out OF his lordship
estate, His death had prevented hi
making good this promise, and nov
Governor Green found himself facin
mutiny in his army. Mistress Bren