138 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS [Feb. 1,

Mr. Stevens presented the following :

BALTIMORE, January 31, 1876.
Dear Sir :

Having been appointed by the President of the United
States, on the nomination of His Excellency, the Governor
of Maryland, Commissioners, on the commission authorized
io be constituted under and by virtue of the act of Congress
to provide for celebrating the one hundredth anniversary of
American Independence, by holding an international exhibi-
tion of arts, manufacturers and products of the soil and
mine ; and having seen that in accordance with the sugges-
tions of Governor Carroll, a committee of the Legislature of
Maryland, of which you are chairman, has been appointed,
in view of having Maryland properly represented on this oc-
casion, we have thought that it would not be out of place to
address you, in anticipation of the action of your committee.

Although ranking, in point of size, among the smaller
States of the Union, there is perhaps not one, whose arts,
manufacturers, and products of the soil and mine, are more
varied, or which would more reputably and honorably con-
tribute to the coming exhibition in Philadelphia.

In the commercial world the credit of Maryland stands
second to none. In the great European money markets, her
public securities are well known, and as highly valued. But
this world, that we refer to, is a very narrow one compared
to that which will be represented from all quarters of the
Globe, during the ensuing summer, at the Centennial Cele-
tration ; and it is to this wider world that we would have
Maryland make known the resources which have given her
the credit due to the energy, ingenuity, skill and persever-
ance; which have turned to such good account the happy cir-
cumstances of her soil and climate.

The present is an opportunity never to occur again. Other
exhibitions, similar in character may take place ; but they
will want the attractiveness of this. The two hundredth
anniversary may be the next, there can be none before it.
It is a remote, and may be an uncertain future for coming
generations ; but we have hold of the present, we are sure of
that, and Maryland would not be true to her good name and
fame, were she not to be represented in a manner correspond-
ing to her means, her opportunities, and her patriotism.

One of the commissioners, in a recent visit to Philadelphia,
obtained information that is not without interest, looking to
the probable expanse of such a representation of Maryland,
as would be proper under the circumstances, and the conclu-