Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-02-03
LEGISLATIVE RECEPTION.
HOnOrs to Rear Admiral Porter.
RESPONSE BY ADMIRAL PORTER.
Organization Of the Naval Academy.

guest and his staff to-day at II O'clock at the State
| House.
The Admiral, with about thirty officers and pro-
essors all in brilliant uniforms. invited to The
| Executive Chamber, where they were cordially
| greeted py Governor swami.
RECEPTION IN THE SENATE.
| After the ceremony of personal Introduction Of
the GEtimgmished ster so oocom1ancd !, 'o ~
ernor. were escorted by the committee to the Sena
Chamher: where they were received with every de-
| monStratiOn OF respect. Senator Birngaiy, OF st.
| Mary'S, in a graceful manner, introduced TO the
| President and members Of the Senate Rear Admiral
Porter anu generally the officers and professors
| com2anying hun. The President of the Senate,
Lieut. Gov. Cox, then addressed Admiral Porter sub
| stantially as follows:
| REM.RKs or LIEUT.. GOVERNOR cox.
| Adntrol: In compliance with joint resolutions Of
both Houses OF the General Assembly Of Maryland.
ADOPTED with entire unanliu'ty 1t becomes my agree
able duty to extend to you, and the officers OF your
staff, cordial welcome to this hall Of legislation,
distinguished as the scene Of that early Congress
which the Father Of his country relinquishci the
seals OF PUBLIC office for the more genial pursuits OF
private ite The tine historical group upon the right
wall of the chamber represents the august OCCASION:
while the portraits IN other parts of the hall point
| the memory OF those distinguished men, who graccd
| at that early day, The good Old commonwealth Of
Maryland. 1t is fitting that amid such associations
and surrounded by art subjects like these, the
mony of reception should be dispensed to the hraye
| and loyal men who have recently illustrated the
| valOr and virtues of the fathers.
| The patriotism which inspired the great Washing
| ton to deeds of herOism in the cause of human lib
erty burned as brightly in the bos0ms OF the noble
| commanders under whose guidance the army and
navy achieved lasting triumph over the enemies Of
the Union In this roll of the great captains of the
age, you, sir, occupy 10 unenviable rOsitOn. When
the events of the late shall be traced by the i'm
partial pen of other times. there will arpear upon
the historic page pr0uder record than that Of the
HniaiterIng loyalty and daring courage which have
rendered liIuStrlOus in day, the hero of Nrk:-
| burg and Fort Fisher. Your name, sir, viii become
| { household word around every American hearth
| stone, end the glorious deeds you have wrought
| out lor'he Republic be embamcd in the grateful
| recOiiccrOns of your cnuntrymcn for ages to come
| Gl.GieacH Of the StdB:-L congratulate You upon
your connection with branch Of the service winch
has reflected so much uStre uDOn the times Heavier
ordnance and less vulnerable armOs formed the great
salient features of the navy and gave lessons to the
world Of which they knew nothing eitherfr0m theory
or experience. The names OF Ericsson and EllCt the
inventors respectively of the monitor and the ram
have already passed into history. The attacks upon
| FlckSburg, Mobile and Fort Fisher-the plunginr.
crashing onset OF upon the rebel boats in the
| Mississippi, when the bold shores at Memphis were
| thronged by eager men and women, anxious to wit
ness the promised sinking OF our heet-the daring
passage of the GaZOo river crowded with Instructions
under the powerful siege guns at Haines' buf-are
events unsurpassed IN the annals ~ naval warfare, Of
winch you, as the representatives of the DEPARTMENT
| directing these grand movements may feel justly
| proud.
| The return of the naval school now under your
dlrechonl to its old hauntS is a subject If general
| congratuiatlon throughout the State, and the day
WILL trust, be far distant when il shall he deemed
advisable to transfer it from point centrally 10
Gated and surrounded by so many advantages adapt
| ed to the purposes Of its establishment. Indeed,
having already exercised fostering care, by con
trlbuting 10 the support Of the academy our State
| possible removal.
Whilst s.rolling through the beautiful enclosure.
on the banks of the Severn it is grateful to note the
change so suddenly wrought from hospitals crowded
with diseased and mangled soldiers to the Of
energy, cheertunesS and hope. witnessed within its
walls. mus fade from our midst, everywhere, the
traces of that melancholy contest in which those of
the same blood hravey fought and fell! Let US ali
recognize that the strife Of arms Is and ha ing
manfully commended for the flag in the hour Of the
nations peril, endeavor now, by describing all dis
| tracing topics. to bring back to the whole and,
| North and 5 ,uth. East and West, the substantial
peace so essential TO our future stability and pros
| perlty as people.
| 10 which Admiral Porter responded as follows:
| RESPONSE OF ADMIRAL PORTER.
| Gentlemen Of hc Mo1yland .4ssea5h:-I take
the officers Of the Naval Academy. for the honor you
have conferred on US. and for the kind greeting you
have given us to-day. should consider myself de-
| fcieGt in intelligence il / could not find
language to express what is due to you on this Occa-
sion. trust. though that you will take the will for
the deed, and not expect me 10 express what feel in
| very lengthy speech. SpeeChmaking is not my
vocation. and very much fear that if | attempted
any extended remarks should subject myself dc
| criticism of the intelligent gentlemen who now
listening to me-whO are accustomed daily to listen TO
| more eloquent oratiOns.
We have come to live amongst you and trust
| that associations will be Of the most agreeable
character fit is decided to locate the Naval Acade-
| that | have seen and heard since | have been here
and since the Legislature has been in session. that
you Will do all in your power to afford the adva-
| tages we so mqeh require to make TINS institution
| what it should bean honor to the country.
| nope that you VIII pass laws to protect The YOUNG
mldshlpmen from the temptations that beset them
every side. Their future success in life may depend
in great measure on the action Of this legislature,
| and the laws it may enact for their benefit. The
| discipline of the Naval Academy will provide for
their welfare inside Of the walls, but there Ger
| tain auTements the outside which we have
no control, which beneficial neither 10 manhood
nor youth, and these can only be controlled by the
| Legislature.
can only say in conclusion for myself and in be-
half OF all the officers in the Academy, that we shall
take great pleasure III receiving the members of the
70 ut .bFI .,4
houses where the latch string win always be found
hanging the outside where and ali viii receive
| honored State State which has shown such a noble
| example during the rebellion and now shines forth
| as the brightest star of the Union.
Admiral Porter then invited to take the chair
OF the President, Gov. Swami being seated on his left
| ana Lieut. GOV Cox on his right. The Senator'S la
dies and large number of visitors present were then
| presented to the Admiral, the band in the Senate
| gallery performing inspiring airs in the meantime.
At'er the ceremonies OF introduction had been per-
formed, and interchange of cOurtesies had taken
| place. the Senate, motion of Mr.. Ohr, took a
| recess.
admiral Porter, accompanied oy the Governor and
Lieutenant Governor and the officers Of the Acade-
| my, were then escorted to the House of Delegates
when Col. BillingSlv introduced him to the Speaker
OF the House and the members of that body. Speaker
Frazier then welcomed the Admiral, and the officers
| OF the Naval Academy, to the floor of the House
where seats in front Of the Speakers desk had been
| cessfui naval achievements of the Admiral which
gave him passport everywhere.
reception. said IN reply that be never appropriated
to himself the compliments that were addressed to
hlp, but he accepted them in behalf of the navy.
Alter few other remarks, be repeated the invita-
ton to the members of the House that he had given
i'll the other branch to visit himself and other officers
OF the Academy. where their presence would be al
ways welcomed
After music from the band the House adjourned,
and the guests retired.
RECEPTION IN THE EXECUTIVE CHAMBER.
The admiral and his officers were then invited to
visit the spacious Executive Chamber as the guests
a IN pTNh IL.
were beautifully entertained with the choicest cham
payne, the members Of the legislature and many
other visitors being present. Governor Swami vel
comed his distinguished guests in few brief
marks:
REMARKS oE GOV. SWAIN.
Gentlemen Of the Leqislatitre and Eello,o Cfiizeas-
You are here to-day to do honor to of the most
distinguished and gallant officers of rnavy-a man
who, IN the bloody strife which has recently ter
minated in the restoration of this government rem
dered unmistakable service in the defense and main
tenance OF glorious Union. He is here Oy the
vitation of the legislature anu let me tell you my
friends, thai in honoring HMM extending to him
honor yourselves and the people of the Whole State
of Maryland 1t would he inappropriate at this
time, and on this ccadslon to refer 20 the brilliant
record which he brings with him. That re ord has
become part and parcel of our common renow1a As
Marylanders we claim participation IN the glory of
his great exploits.
The names Of Grant and Sherman, and Farragnt
and Porter VIII be held in grateful recollection.
wnen you and and those present snail have passed
away and been forgotten. II you desire to estimate
the value OF their services in putting down the re-
bellOn to sever this Union let me point you to the
symbol OF our nationality which floats OK er Us to-day
with not single star blotted from its gliterng folds
standing firm in all the grandeur of its power and
triumph, Men like these the State of Maryland de-
lights to honor.
We stand here upon ground cOnsecrated and made
forever venerable by the most stirring "Reminiscences
OF the past 1t was under this roof and aIa0s In he
very spot where now stand, that the Father of his
country laid down his sword AFTER achieving the lib-
critics OF an oppressed and down trodden people II
was here that the men of the Revolution in those
times that tried mems souls, wont to assemble
1t was here that Howard and Williama and PhiIpot
and the representatives Of tho Old Maryland Line
bucked on their 10 go forth upon their great
mission of human freedom Proud however as their
associations must prove to Maryland and patriotic
men from Whatever section they serve 10 heighten
rather than diminish, by the loyal impulses which
they inspire, the luar8 which is thrown around this
old landmark of the Revolution, by the presence of
our distinguished friend here to-day.
If it possible for the Executive of the State
to give increased emphasis to the proceedings which
have already transpired, | would beg to avail myself
on this occasion to extend to him my heartfelt con-
ordinations and to bid him welcome to the State of
Maryland in the name Of her admiring and grateful
people,
The Governor then proposed the health of Admiral
Porter.
| Admiral Porter responded in brief and appropriate
terms. Addresses were also made by Lit Gov Cox
Adjutant General Berry, and OtheT.. The band dis
coursed its music. Many lively toaSts were drank
and an hour was passed III very cheerful manner
The Admiral and his officers then took formal leoye
of the Governor and Lieut. Governor, and withdrew