| June 1867, Visit of President Andrew Johnson to Annapolis and to Government House
Text includes speeches of Johnson and Governor Swann and a description of the banquet held in Government House
from Debates of the Maryland Constitutional Convention of 1867 compiled by Philip B. Perlman of the Baltimore Bar (Hepbron & Haydon, Publishers: Twentieth Century Press,
Baltimore) (As reprinted from articles reported in The Baltimore Sun)
"The Admiral, accompanied by such of his staff not absent on the summer practice cruise of the cadets, met the visitors at the main entrance, and escorted them to
the Governor's Mansion, now by the extension of the Academy grounds, within the enclosure of the institution. Here they were refreshed, . . . [Tour of the Naval
Academy with Admiral Porter]. . . The guests finally returned to the Governor's Mansion, where they were received by the general officers of the State militia, all in
new and glittering uniforms, General Berry doing the honors on the occasion. The President retired for rest, and at 3:30 p.m. again appeared in the parlors,
apparently much refreshed, ready to accompany the members of the Constitutional Convention and other invited guests to the Governor's Banquet. This took place
in two large and communicating dining-rooms in the second story, and was decidedly a grand affair. The tables literally groaned under the weight of flesh, fish and
fowl, and without much ceremony a most vigorous attack was made by the company. Governor Swann sat at the head of the table, with the President on his right,
and the Secretary of State on the left, whilst on either side was John W. Garrett, Esq., John M. Carter, Esq., the officers of the State Militia, members of the
Convention, and others. The dinner was regarded as one of the most brilliant affairs of the kind that has taken place in Annapolis for many years. After the removal
of the cloth toasts were drunk to the President, the Governor, and others, all of which were briefly but felicitously responded to. When about drinking to the health of Mr. Seward it was
found that he had quietly slipped off, and on making inquiry it was ascertained that feeling so much invigorated by the morning's trip on the
Chesapeake he had made arrangements with Admiral Porter to take his steamer and proceed to Washington by way of the Potomac, and he had actually embarked
almost before he was missed from the table."
Text from If These Walls Could Speak draft:
In view of this sale and the temporary nature of the state's use of the house, the extent of the repairs and purchases undertaken during the Swann administration seem curious. Before its demise as the center of Maryland's political and social life, however, Government House was to be the setting of one more glittering event, its last as host to the President of the United States. With all of the repairs and refurbishing that had taken place in the preceding years and especially in the past 18 months, the house must have been at its most glorious for the visit of President Andrew Johnson to Annapolis on June 29, 1867. The two-day visit to Maryland began with an overnight stay in Baltimore and then a morning trip aboard the steamer Samuel J. Pentz down the Chesapeake Bay to Annapolis, accompanied by many dignitaries, including Governor Swann.
On arrival in Annapolis, the Presidential procession of carriages made its way through throngs of people to the State House where the Constitutional Convention was meeting. President Johnson addressed the Convention which had extended the invitation for him to come to Annapolis. In a rather emotional address, the President talked about the ill will that still clouded the "bleeding" nation and his hope and belief that the nation would soon be united in spirit as well as in fact. He paid tribute to Maryland's important role in the Revolution and to the memory of George Washington's resignation in the Senate Chamber when he "lifted the crown of power from his head and laid it at the feet of the people." Following the speeches, the President was taken to the Senate Chamber to see where the momentous event took place and to look at the historical portraits on display there.
After leaving the State House, the President went to Government House which was now owned by the U.S. Navy, but still occupied by the governor. The evening was marked by a
banquet in honor of the President which was described as "one of the most brilliant affairs of the kind that had taken place in Annapolis for many years." According to the account in the Baltimore Sun on July 1, 1867, the "tables literally groaned under the weight of flesh, fish and fowl and without much ceremony a most vigorous attack was made by the company."
Following the banquet, the President left forWashington by train from Annapolis Junction, and those left behind in Annapolis, including the Governor, looked ahead to the monumental task of planning of a new Government House.
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