THE SOFTS THE TRUE DEMOCRACY OF THE STATE OF NEW-YORK. MAY 25TH, 1856.
New York: 1856. 72pp. Disbound, light dusting and foxing, light wear. Good+.
A scarce explanation of New York's arcane, hard-fought feuds within the Democratic Party: "Hards" vs. "Softs," "Hunkers" vs. "Barnburners." As the slavery crisis heated, New York Democrats who inclined toward the Free Soil policies of Martin Van Buren came to be known as Barnburners, because they allegedly would destroy the Party [burn the barn down] in their zeal to defeat slavery. "Regular" Democrats were "Hunkers," for hankering after and hungering for spoils of office.
Hunkers wishing to bury the hatchet with Barnburners "softened" their animus; the Hunkers' "rule or ruin" faction tauntingly referred to their erstwhile allies as "Softs." The "demagogue Hunkers"-- that is, those who opposed the Grand Compromise between Hunkers and Barnburners-- were "Hards" or "Hard Shell." Softs and Hards sought control of the State Party in 1856; the presidential convention in Cincinnati would pick the winner. The author is a "Soft."
FIRST EDITION. LCP 9591. Sabin 86211. Not in Eberstadt, Decker. Item #27021
Price: $350.00