These were the conservative Democrats in the days of Tyler and Polk, the more radical members of the party being the BARNBURNERS, q.v.
1844. The “Old Hunkers,” as the drill-sergeants of the party are styled, expect to be, and are, rewarded with appointments to office…. The “Old Hunkers” will be first provided for, and the power will be given to [them] to fill all the offices in their districts.—Mr. Hardin of Illinois, House of Repr., March 21: Cong. Globe, p. 632, App.
1844. The “old Hunkers,” as they are termed, have held for years here the dispensation of public office. No wonder these “old Hunkers” throve, and their eyes stood out with fatness. The “old Hunkers” must give way. They have ruled long enough.—Phila. Spirit of the Times, Dec. 2.
1846. Croswell is a hunker in state politics; goes for Texas, slavery, Polk, Marcy, and Canada, Oregon, plunder, war; anything to make money.—W. L. Mackenzie, ‘Life of Martin Van Buren,’ p. 147 (Boston). (Italics in the original.)
1846. I was told that the sons of St. Tammany had degenerated into old hunkers, barnburners, and office-seekers.—Mr. Wick of Indiana, House of Repr., July 1: Cong. Globe, p. 1041, App.
1848. When Mr. Polk came fully and practically to declare, not to the victors, but to the Hunkers, belong the spoils, what do you see?—Mr. Holmes of New York, the same, Aug. 7: id., p. 1112, App. (The whole speech is full of allusions to the Hunkers and the Barnburners.)
a. 1848. My inveterate enemies, the Hunkers, are getting excited.—Dow, Jun., ‘Patent Sermons,’ i. 130.
1849. He is now the leader of the Hunkers of Missouri.—N.Y. Evening Post, July 11 (Bartlett).
1853. The old hunkers are bitter against [Mr. Wise of Virginia], and say that Gen. Cushing ought to satisfy John Tyler.—Daily Morning Herald, St. Louis, March 24.
1856. He takes especial delight in giving them the later political histories, not forgetting to get an occasional “dab” at old Hunkerism en passant.—Yale Lit. Mag., xxi. 223 (April).
1863. General Butler’s friends were chiefly of the hunker persuasion.—Parton, ‘General Butler in New Orleans,’ p. 184.
1863. I resolve hunkerism into indolence and cowardice, too lazy … and too timid to think.—Wendell Phillips, ‘Speeches,’ p. 528. (N.E.D.)
1864. A white-haired old man, well preserved, and a stickler for law and precedent, and a Hunker.—Boston Commonwealth, June 3.
