| Summary |
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the administration of North Carolina Governor Henry Toole Clark. Clark served as the chief executive of the Tar Heel state from July, 1861, to September, 1862. Being governor during the first year of the Civil War makes Clark an important North Carolinian. Since Clark's role in North Carolina history has been long neglected, an attest will be made to shed some light on this aspect of the state's history. In 1850, Clark entered politics and won a seat in the state senate representing Edgecombe County. Using seniority and family influence, Clark was able in 1858, to acquire the speakership of the senate. Upon the death of Governor John W. Ellis in July, 1861, Speaker Henry Clark in accordance with the North Carolina constitution assumed the governorship. Mobilization of the state's energy and industries was the governor's chief job. While serving as governor, Clark faced many and varied problems such as equipping troops, organizing military units, establishing military prisons, providing military protection for the home front, and unifying the people of North Carolina. Clark achieved a certain amount of success in all of these areas. As a political party leader Governor Henry Clark was a failure. He tried to remain aloof from all political parties and never accepted the role of leader in any political party. North Carolina sorely needed a man respected and trusted by all factions and parties in 1861. Henry Toole Clark was such a man. By 1862, the competing political parties in the state Mere ready for a change. Each party needed a forceful leader and Clark did not measure up to this qualification. Governor Clark was not a candidate for re-election in September, 1862. After turning over the state government to his successor Zebulon B, Vance, Clark retired from politics and returned to Tarboro. Until the end of the war he remained at Hilma, his plantation, spending a great deal of his time corresponding with friends. In the final analysis, after an examination of existing correspondence and official documents, it must be concluded that Henry Clark was a mediocre governor. While only an average governor never rising above the status of state politician, Clark managed to accomplish several things during his term with the help of his aides, by gaining the respect of the people, and by his own determination and efforts. Hard work and dependability were the main assets of Henry Clark. As a political leader Clark failed; however, as a man of character he won the respect of North Carolinians. |
