doughface

[ doh-feys ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, U.S. History.

a Northerner who sympathized with the South during the controversies over new territories and slavery before the Civil War.
a congressman from a northern state not opposed to slavery in the South.

An Americanism dating back to 1785–95; dough + face

A Doughface press may cry, Compromise; and try to restore the status quo ante bellum, but all in vain.

The country at large has had to pay dearly for that old doughface love for the South; it is paying every day in lives and money.

Doughface democracy among us has squalled as if receiving deadly wounds at every proposal to crush or injure the foe.

While the South is entitled to the palm of victory for shot-gun Democracy, the North is a fair competitor for doughface flunkyism.

In this sense Lincoln, with his life-long record of opposition to the extension of slavery, was a doughface.

April 24, 2024gallimaufry

[gal-uh-maw-free ]

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