The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Hunkers

HUNKERS (supposably from Dutch honk, &ldquo;post&rdquo; or &ldquo;station&rdquo;; &ldquo;stick-in-the-muds&rdquo;), in American politics, at present a contemptuous nickname, like &ldquo;moss-backs,&rdquo; for the unprogressive elements of a party, which detest change. Originally, a name given about 1844 to the section of the New York State Democrats which opposed new issues; the points for which it then stood, however, had become party tenets from about 1835. Thence till 1840 the Hunker faction was in opposition to the ../Locofoco/ wing (q.v.) which opposed bank charters; but was obliged to yield in 1838. From 1840 to 1846 they opposed the Radicals, who wished a revised State constitution, elective judges and cessation of State canal building. Thence till 1852 they opposed the ../Barnburners/ (q.v.), who, at first separately and then in alliance with the Free-Soil party (q.v.) fought the National Democratic party for recognition of its State power. After the election of Pierce in 1852, it divided into &ldquo;hards&rdquo; and &ldquo;softs&rdquo;; the first under Daniel S. Dickinson opposed the administration, the second under William L. Marcy supported it. The former made up the bulk of the &ldquo;War Democrats&rdquo; after 1861. Besides those named, Horatio Seymour is the best remembered Hunker leader; while the opposition has the familiar names of Martin Van Buren, Silas Wright and John A. Dix, besides others remembered by the older generation.