Antedating of "Political Correctness"

[Joel S. Berson]

At 7/21/2006 12:02 PM, you wrote:
>political correctness (OED 1979)
>
>1805 _The Witness_ (Litchfield, Conn.) 25 Sept. 3 (America's Historical
>Newspapers)  The constitution presumes that the people are the judges of
>political correctness, and has accordingly left the decision to them.
>
>Fred Shapiro

Isn't this more a literal use of "correctness" -- here perhaps
meaning "correct actions by politicians" -- than the "advocacy of or
conformity to politically correct views; politically correct language
or behaviour" of the OED?  Or does "politically correct behavior"
encompass the 1805 use?  Or does the OED need to separate mingled senses?

Joel

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