218 OLD HUNKERS AND BARNBURNEKS. 



population, are probably as mimerous at least in New 

 York as in any European city. 



Though most of my fellow-passengers were on their 

 way from the fair at Syracuse, the conversation in the 

 cars was more about political differences, conventions, 

 and discussions, than about the proceedings of the show. 

 The Old Hunkers and the Barnhurners — two sections 

 of the democratic party — were holding many meetings 

 throughout the country, with the view of bringing about 

 a union, as their differences had been a source of great 

 advantage to the Whigs at the recent federal and state 

 elections. In England, to be a democrat still implies a 

 position at the very front of the movement party, and a 

 desire to hasten forward political changes, irrespective of 

 season or expediency. But among the American demo- 

 crats there is a Conservative and a Radical party. The 

 former, who desire to restrain " the amazing violence of 

 the popular spirit," are nick-named by their democratic 

 adversaries the " Old Hunkers;" the latter, who pro- 

 fess to have in their hearts " sworn eternal hostility 

 against every form of tyranny over the mind of man," 

 are stigmatised as Barnburners^ but call themselves the 

 " Young Democracy!!^ or the " Progressive Young 

 Democracy." The New Yorh Tribune^ in reference to 

 the origin of the names themselves, says that the name 

 Hunkers " was intended to indicate that those on whom 

 it was conferred had an appetite for a large hunk* of 

 the ' spoils,' though we never could discover that they 

 were peculiar in that. On the other hand, the Barn- 

 burners were so named, in allusion to the story of an old 

 Dutchman who relieved himself of rats by burning his 

 barns which they infested, just like exterminating all 

 banks and corporations, to root out the abuses connected 

 therewith." It is alleged against the Barnburners, that 



* Hunh or hunch is a large slice or piece — as, a hunk of bread and 

 cheese. 



