Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. II.djvu/129

 JAMES KNOX POLK 97 opposed to the doctrines of the anti-slavery re formers, we have the testimony of their leader in the house, John Quincy Adams, to the effect that Speaker Polk uniformly extended to him &quot;every kindness and courtesy imaginable.&quot; On leaving congress, Mr. Polk became the can didate of the Democrats of Tennessee for governor. They had become disheartened by a series of dis asters and defeats caused primarily by the defec tion of John Bell and Judge Hugh L. White. Under these circumstances it was evident that no one but the strongest man in the party could enter the canvass with the slightest prospect of success, and it was doubtful whether even he could carry off the prize. On being asked, Mr. Polk at once cheerfully consented to allow his name to be used. He was nominated in the autumn of 1838, but, owing to his congressional duties, was unable fairly to enter upon the canvass until the spring of 1839. His opponent was Newton Cannon, also a Demo crat, who then held the office. The contest was spirited, and Mr. Polk was elected by over 2,500 majority. On October 14 he took the oath of office. In his inaugural address he touched upon the relations of the state and Federal governments, declared that the latter had no constitutional power to incorporate a national bank, took strong ground against the creation of a surplus Federal revenue by taxation, asserted that &quot;the agitation of the