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.
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