666 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS [Mar. 19,

The Senate proceeded to the consideration of Executive
business.

After a time the Senate resumed the consideration of legis-
lative business.

The Senate adjourned until to-morrow morning at 11 o'-
clock.

TUESDAY, March 19, 1867.

The President laid before the Senate the following commu-
nication from the Hon. John Thomson Mason :

ANNAPOLIS, March 12th, 1867.

Hon. C. C. Cox, Lieutenant Governor and

President of the Senate:

SIR:—May I take the liberty respectfully to suggest through
you to the Senate in regard to the site for a government
house, the appointment of a commission of three, five, or
more gentlemen of known character, sound judgment, and
independence, to be selected throughout the State, without
compensation, to select a site for the house for the Governor,
and to contract for the same.

This plan, in my humble judgment, apart from any per-
sonal considerations, would be much more likely to promote
the interests of the State, and to give general satisfaction,
than to leave the matter to the Legislature, whose time at
this late period of the session is so constantly occupied with
legitimate legislative business as to render it almost impossi-
ble for members to give a fair and thorough examination or
the subject.

Being a very important matter in a public point of view,
it should demand mature and exclusive consideration.

The above suggestion is not original, but comes from the
fact that the State House was located and built through the
means of a similar commission.

You are at liberty to make what use you please of this let-
ter. Truly and respectfully yours,

JNO. THOMSON MASON.

Which was read and referred to the Committe on the Exe-
cutive Mansion.