Murphy was a delegate to the 1852 Democratic National Convention . When the convention deadlocked after several ballots on the selection of a presidential nominee , the delegation from Virginia decided to support a dark horse — a northerner whose views on slavery were acceptable to southerners ( doughface ) — who they intended to vote for as a unit in the hopes of rallying enough delegates around one candidate that he could win the nomination . The Virginia delegates considered Murphy and Franklin Pierce . By one vote they decided to support Pierce , who went on to win the nomination and the presidency
1852 Democratic National Convention
1852 Democratic National Convention
Henry C. Murphy