Dig this, from the St. Louis Republic of January 4, 1904 p.8:

"With reference to the act of recognition, the President begs the question of whether or not Panama by its own uninfluenced action established a complete independence."


Or the Morning Chronicle (London, Eng.) of October 30, 1838 [!], p. 2:

"The complaint we made against The Post on Saturday will equally apply to the Herald of Monday, viz., that it begs the whole question whether Mr TURNER'S discourses were soctrinal or moral."