doughface

American  

[doh-feys] / ˈdoʊˌfeɪs /

noun

U.S. History.

1. a Northerner who sympathized with the South during the controversies over new territories and slavery before the Civil War.

2. a congressman from a northern state not opposed to slavery in the South.

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Etymology

Origin of doughface

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

Example Sentences

The choice went instead to James Buchanan, a colorless Pennsylvania doughface with a long record of party service dating back to Andrew Jackson’s day.

From Textbooks • Jan. 18, 2018

At the same time, emphasizing Pierce’s status as a doughface threatened to push anti-slavery Democrats into the splinter Free Soil Party, fracturing the party in the North.

From Slate • Sep. 14, 2012

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

From From Sail to Steam, Recollections of Naval Life by Mahan, A. T. (Alfred Thayer)

Each honnable doughface gits jest wut he axes, An' the people—their annooal soft sodder an' taxes.

From The Biglow Papers by Hughes, Thomas

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.

From The Continental Monthly, Vol. 2, No. 1, July, 1862 by Various