Caleb Cushing the 'Doughface'

From the Masonry Today "Today in History" and Wikipedia for "Doughface"

The Masonry Today article on Caleb Cushing referred to him as a "Doughface."  New term to me.

From Wikipedia.

This term came to be used disparagingly.  In Webster's 1847 dictionary the definition of doughfacism was defined as "the willingness to be led by one  of stronger mind and will."

In the years leading up to the Civil War, "Doughface" was used to describe Northerners who favored the Southern position in political disputes.  Typically, it described a Northern Democrat who was more often  allied with Southern Democrats than with he majority of Northern Democrats.

From Masonry Today  "Today in Masonic History."

Caleb Cushing was born January 17, 1800.

In 1853, Caleb Cushing was   Attorney General of the United States.  During the leadup to the Civil War, Cushing was what was called a "Doughface."

As an example, he supported the Dredd Scott Decision so aggressively that Chief Justice  Roger B. Taney who wrote the decision wrote Cushing a letter thanking him for his support.

Despite his "Doughface" ideas, Cushing did support  the Union during the war.

--Old B-RunnerFace