dough-faces

This term may be regarded as nearly or quite synonymous with another not very much unlike it in form--the English "nose of wax." Generally it means a pliable politician--one who is accessible to personal influences and considerations. It was first applied, however, by John Randolph, of Roanoke, to such Northern members of Congress as manifested especial willingness to fall in with the views and demands of the South on questions involving the "peculiar institution," alias slavery. "These Northern doughfaces," he said, with an intensity of contempt, which may be imagined only by those who have seen and heard him in his sarcastic mood. [J. Inman.]

Thanks to a kind Providence, and the manly straight-forwardness of John C. Calhoun, the great question of extension or non-extension of human slavery under the flag of this Republic is to be pressed to a decision now. Desperate, idolatrous, and blind as is his devotion to slavery, we would sooner see him President to-morrow than any dough-face in the Union. He is no smooth-tongued parasite--no oily wriggler between resorts which he pronounces more and most detestable. He always strikes directly for what he wants, and boldly for all he wants, and in this boldness finds the elements of success.--N. Y. Tribune, June 29, 1848.

This term has very recently been taken up by the Southerners themselves, to denote men who are false to the principles of slavery, as Northern dough-faces are to the principles of freedom.

There was a disposition in the Senate to evade the question--to slip a bill for the establishment of the Oregon territory through the Senate, without calling attention to the Slavery question, and under the immediate pressure of the demand made for the military defence of the territory from the Indians. The Whigs of the North and of the South were silent. The Democratic Cass men of the North and of the South were mum. Two-thirds of the Senate were dough-faced. There are Southern as well as Northern dough-faces; men looking to the spoils care not for principles, whether they be of the North or of the South.--Washington Cor. N. Y. Com. Adv., June 4, 1848.

I say to our Southern friends, deliver to us the dough-faces; deliver them to our tender mercies. We Democrats of the West and of the North-west will take care of our interests and of yours also. We keep our eyes on the old land-marks--on the letter of the Constitution. You have rights guaranteed to you in the South, and we in the West. You have one species of property, and we another. We have been charged with being dough-faces; and gentlemen who make this charge not only go the dough-face, but the dough-head. What is the meaning of dough-face? I believe it is, that the dough, being soft, can be pinched and made to exhibit any aspect you please. I believe that animal magnetism has been almost reduced to a science. The principle is, that, by touching a certain part of the cranium, certain effects are produced. If you touch one of the bumps of the dough-head, benevolence turns out for the negro; there is no sympathy for any other kind of person. Touch another bump of the dough-head, and the dough-face will go against every slaveholder for President; but when you touch another, the dough-face will hurrah for old Zack Taylor, although he is a large slaveholder.--Mr. Foote of Mississippi, Debate in Senate, June 22, 1848.

A contemptuous nickname, applied to the northern favorers and abettors of negro slavery.

The Wilmot proviso was lost, and the dough-faces of New York did the deed.--N. Y. Express, March, 1841.

There is one very probable result, to wit: that there will be "dough-faces" enough among the Northern Democrats to sustain the policy of extending the area of African slavery to the shores of the Pacific.--N. Y. Com. Adv. Jan. 8, 1848.

The truth is, that while the Southerners need and are willing to pay for the services of the dough-faces, they dislike their persons and despise their discourse--N. Y. Tribune, April, 1848.