Stephen Clark (NY treasurer)

Stephen Clark (b. February 22, 1792) was an American politician.

Life

He lived at Albany, New York. He was a contractor and participated in the construction of the Long Bridge in Washington, D.C. and the High Bridge in New York City.

He was a canal commissioner from 1845 to 1847. He had been elected to a four-year term in November 1844, but was legislated out of office by the New York State Constitution of 1846.

He was elected New York State Treasurer on the American Party ticket in November 1855, defeating both the Republican and Democratic candidates, and took office on January 1, 1856. At the time, the Governor served a two-year term elected in even years, and the cabinet officers a two-year term elected in odd years, so that Governor Myron H. Clark, elected as a Whig but now a Republican, had to cope with a hostile majority in the Erie Canal Board at a time when the political situation was very unstable and party feeling rose high. In June 1856, a majority of the Canal Board, including Treasurer Clark, exchanged the workplace of two resident engineers attached to the Canal. The members of the Canal Board, including the Treasurer, were accused by Lt. Gov. Henry J. Raymond and State Engineer Silas Seymour of having committed an illegal act, having mettled in the exclusive competences of the State Engineer. On June 23, 1856, Treasurer Clark was suspended by Governor Clark, since the State Constitution provided for the possible suspension of the Treasurer but not the other state officers. Soon after, the Treasurer answered the accusation in a letter to the Governor, arguing that the Canal Board had powers to supersede the State Engineer, and that the Treasurer could not be suspended for acts committed as an ex officio member of any executive board, but only for his acts as Treasurer regarding the public funds, and the suspension was revoked.

He was buried at Albany Rural Cemetery in Menands, New York.

ources

* [http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/clark8.html] Political Graveyard
* [http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9804E2D9113CE13BBC4052DFB667838E649FDE] The American Party ticket, in NYT on October 18, 1855
* [http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9F04E7DD1339E134BC4B51DFB066838D649FDE] Charges before the Governor, in NYT on June 23, 1856
* [http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9D05E0D91F3DEE34BC4C51DFB066838D649FDE] Suspension by the Governor, in NYT on June 24, 1856
* [http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9A02E5DC1339E134BC4952DFB166838D649FDE] The controversy over the Treasurer's suspension, and Clark's answer to the Governor, in NYT on July 11, 1856
* [http://books.google.com/books?id=E3sFAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA35] "The New York Civil List" compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (pages 35f and 42; Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858)
* [http://www.albanyruralcemetery.org/albrurcem/Public_Officials.htm] Public officials buried at Albany Rural Cemetery