Timeline
1823 Election and Taxation
Early in the year, several Arkansawyers expressed interest in the race for delegate to Congress. Henry Conway, wanting to replace J. Woodson Bates as Arkansas's representative in Washington, began his campaign by securing the support of Bates' ally, Robert Crittenden. In January, two others also announced their candidacy for the position. When Bates arrived home in June from Washington, he learned of Conway's campaign and that his most influential friends now supported his opponent. Bates quickly announced he would not seek reelection. By the time of the August election, William Bradford was Conway's only opponent and Conway won by a vote of 1,300 to 921.
In its fall meeting, the General Assembly made military bounty lands subject to taxation. Most veterans who had been given lands in Arkansas for their military service did not live in the Territory, so, in the issue of the Gazette announcing the act authorizing this tax, Woodruff advertised himself as agent for non-resident owners. Thus Woodruff began his land agency business which ultimately brought him much greater wealth and fewer headaches, than did his printing business.
On December 2, in President Monroe's annual message to Congress, he outlined a policy of special concern for the western hemisphere and for its protection from future European colonization. The significance of this policy, known as the Monroe Doctrine, was not fully realized until later in the century.
