The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-04-27
To Mai. Gen. C. II. SMIru, Eastport.
THE EXECUTIVE MEDICINE.

The Washington correspondent OF the Port.
land Press aptly illustrates the method by
which ''my policy" is carried OUT
Soon after the accession of Mr.. johnson to
the Presidency, in the first flush and giddness
OF his sudden and great elevation, without ask
ing the advice of CONGRESS, without taking the
sense of the people, worst OF oil without wait
ing upon that development and unfolding OF
events In which the wise and true statesman oil.
ways recognizes the guiding hand of Divine
Providence; in the fulness of his egotism, and
the plenitudc of his self.suilcient vanity, in n
dark day and an evil hour he conceived and
propoundcd "pOHcy." That policy he has
since followed with determination which no
"ogic of events" can shake, with faith no
impossibilties can stumble. The great Doctor
Sangrado of Valladolid. could not have been
more certain that his grand specific for all dis
eases - frequent and abundant bloodlettine,
and copious draughts OF warm watcr-contain-
ed all that was worth knowing i'm medical sc-
encc, shan is President johnson that "my Poh-
ca" embodes all political wisdom. When Gil
Bias, disturbed with some secret pangs OF con-
science, mildly suggested to his master, the
great Singrado. that all their patients speedily
and invariably died under their hands, and
gently limited some doubts rs to the universal
efficacy of their method OF cure. the Doctor
admitted the fact, but added with true John
sonian profundty,-"T ras not so sure as !
an 81 The principles upon which proceed, I
should think my remedies trcrc PcrnicfSns az al
most all cases that come under my care. ell
you will take my advice, SIR" replied the pu
nil, 1--WE will change our method, and give
chemical preparations to our patients through
curiosity: the worst that can happen will on
IL be that they may produce the same effect
that follows our bleeding and warm water
IL would willingly make that experiment. re-.
piled the great Doctor, "proyidcd it could have
no bad consequences: bm hare published a
book in which have cx,ollcd the use OF IRE
Quent bleeding and aqueous draughts: and
,cOuida thou hare me go and dccTy my o'rn
,rork?" So convincing was this logic that
both the Doctor and his pupil went to work
again, and with such zeal and success, that in
less than six weeks they made more widows and
orphans than the siege of Troy.
The manifest and powerful tendency OF Doc
tor Johnson's specific, rs administered BY him
TO sick States, to everywhere exhaust and de-
stroy all vital loyalty and real patriotism, and
everywhere revive the partially subdued disease
into fearful activity, might possibly suggest to
another mind than his some doubts us to the in
falliblity Of said specific. Doubtless "if he
was not 60 sure M he is Of the principles upon
which he proceeds, he would think his remedies
were pernicous in almost every case that comes
under his care" Being, however, just 50 "surc
Us no is" he finds in the fact that in every one
of his reconstructed State governments tho
power has already passed or is rapidly passing
into disloyal hands, that his political remedies,
so called, are hailed with delight by oil who
openly fought or secretly sought to destroy tho
life Of the Republic, that they are regarded
with distrust and alarm by the great body Of
those who fought in field or laborcd in council
TO subdue treason in all this he secs no reason
to reconsider his theory, but still for 10y and
every ailing of the body polite continues to
prescribe his pet nostrum with the reckless per-
tinacity Of tho genuine empiric.