Роде
Six
THE STATE
February 29, 1936
GOVERNORS OF NORTH CAROLINA
- No. 54— ZEBULON BAIRD VANCE -
- By W. J. Sadler -
ONE of I bo most
popular ami Moved
governors "ho ever
ruled over I ho destinies of
North t'nrolinn was Zebu Ion
Baird Vanee, of Bnnconibc
< ‘minty, who
gubernatorial
the crucial days of 1862-
1805 while the War
Between the States was
raging.
Vance, whose name hns gom
in historv as this state’s
occupied the
eliair during
Governor Zebu Ion lluiril Vance.
14'orlh Carolina’s famous “War Gov¬
ernor, *’ served during a critical
period in tlie history of the state, lie
was vastly humiliated at tlie end of
the Civil War through incarceration
in si federsil prison, hut hiter rose to
even grexiter heights in public life.
down
‘War
'limed olios' Oil Scptem-
serving throughout the
Governor." a
1юг
6. 1862,
duration of the war until May 2!*. 1865
when he was removed by a provisional
government sot up in North Carolina
by Federal authorities following the
collapse of the Confederate cause. He
had boon elected on “The People’s
Ticket" to succeed Ilenrv T. Clark, of
Edgecoinlio C oniitv.
Served With Distinction
Previously, Vanee had served with
distinction with the Confederate forces
ns n Colonel, lie was imbue*! with a
glowing fervor for the cause of his
Moved Southland, and, upon agreeing
to accept the governorship, issued a
statement in which he urged the citi¬
zens of the state to stand wholehearted¬
ly behind the civil and military of¬
ficial* who were striving to win the
fight for what they sincerely Mieved
to
1ю
right.
“I earnestly pray." he is reported
ns having said, “for that unity of senti¬
ment and fraternity of feeling which
alone can enable us to prosecute this
war for liliertv and independence to u
glorious and triumphant issue."
State Gave Many Troops
By the lime Vance was selected as
chief executive of the state. North
i ‘arolina had furnished thousands of
iiM’ti to the Southern armies under the
command of General Roliort
К. Тле,
ami these forces had acquitted them¬
selves admirably in many hard fought
battles. However, their bravery bad
been exceedingly costly, as many of
the Tar Heel soldiers had met death or
injury in the various conflicts. Only a
short time before Vanee liecamc
governor, that Moved Confederate
leader. General Thomas
Л.
“Stonewall”
.laeksoii, had been fatally wounded by
bis own men in Virginia. This tragic
incident, happening entirely through ac¬
cident, had struck a severe blow to the
hopes of the South, but its forces kept
on fighting with vigor and rtwnirccf ni¬
nes*.
Even while tin* campaign for Vance
as governor was Mug conducted in
the slate, the intrepid North
«
’arolinian
remained in command of bis troops on
the battlefield, while bis thousands of
friends throughout bis native heath
were working in bis behalf. When the
ballot* were counted, it was found that
Vanee had won an overwhelming vic¬
tory over Colonel William Johnston.
The margin by which lie was elected
amounted to more than 30,000 votes.
The total vote was 3S,tNW less than in
the election two years before, probably
due to so many electors serving with the
army.
Because of blockades maintained by
the federal forces, there was a shortage
of all kinds of supplies, including food,
in North Carolina during Vance's
term of office, and Wilmington and
other towns and cities on the coast • *f
the state were favorite harbors for
blockade runners from England and
other countries to land their supplies.
This led to abnormal conditions r«*-
garding prices of the necessities of life,
and, as one historian says, “speculation
and profiteering Maine rampant.”
Meanwhile, Vanee and other public-
spirited citizens were endeavoring
under difficulties to persuade
borne industries to increase
their outputs. This, however,
was no easy task, because of
an extreme shortage of
labor, although owners of
various organizations did
their best to cooperate.
Vance did not attempt to
b e e
о
m e dictatorial as
governor, but sought and
accepted the advice of some of the lend¬
ing figures of the day. “He even sub¬
ordinated himself in some regard to
what he considered their superior wis¬
dom.” says an historical account.
Known as “the greatest stump speak*
er that ever was," Vance had served in
the Congress of the United States bc-
for the war. He also had a reputation
ns one of the most astute lawyers in
North Carolina, and lie had made a
name for himself in many other
rcs|»eets. His services to his native
state have been widely recognized, and
twelve years after bis retirement from
his first service as governor, he was
elected, in 1877, to another term, lie
also was sent to the United States from
this state several years prior to that
time.
Increases Majority
When his first term ended in 1*64,
Vance was again put forward as a
candidate for re-election. In this cam¬
paign he was opposed by W. W. Holden,
of Wake County, who lost his own
county bv a good majority. Vance's
margin of victory in his race was 72,-
526 votes to 14,471.
Vance continued to rule the states
wisely and well until he was removed
from office by the federal authorities
near the close of May, 1865. He was
greatly humiliated by Mng arrested
and carried to Washington, where lie
was forced to remain in prison for a
considerable length of time. But lie
ultimately triumphed over all oK'tades
placed in his path, and today is greatly
honored throughout the state.
There are only two statutes of
governors of North Carolina on tlie
ground' of the Capitol building in Ra¬
leigh —and Vance's is one of them. The
other is that of Governor Charles B.
Avcocfe.
