Hunkers,
The name applied to various political factions in the
United States, but in a particular sense to the conservative Democrats of
New York State; first used as a designation in 1844.
The history of the New York faction, to which the name was afterwards applied, is traceable as far back as 1835.
In 1835-40 this faction, which deprecated the introduction of new problems in politics, opposed the war on bank charters by the Loco-Foco (q. v.) faction, although it aided in passing a State banking law in 1838.
In 1840-46 they opposed the demand of the radical Democrats for a revision of the
State constitution, a cessation of unprofitable canal enterprises, and an elective judiciary, but in this movement were also defeated.
In 1846-52 they met with success in their advocacy of the abolition of the
State branch of the Democratic party in antagonism to the national organization.
After this the
Marcy Hunkers, known as “softs,” supported the Pierce administration, while the
Dickinson Hunkers, known as “hards,” opposed it. The latter during the
Civil War were generally “war Democrats.”
The principal Hunker leaders were:
Daniel S. Dickinson,
Edwin Closwell,
William C. Bouck,
William L. Marcy,
Horatio Seymour, and
Samuel Beardsley; and their leading opponents were
Martin Van Buren,
Silas Wright,
A. C. Flagg,
John A. Dix,
Reuben E. Fenton, Samuel Young, and
Michael Hoffman.
See
Albany regency. 
