Recognize and respect Senor Don Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy as President of the Revolutionary Government, organized in the manner prescribed by decree of the 23d and instructions of the 27th of June last, and beg the said President that he will ask and obtain from foreign Governments the recognition of its belligerency and independence, not only because this act constitutes a duty of justice, but also because to no one is it permitted to contravene natural laws nor stifle the legitimate aspiration of a people for its amelioration and dignification.
Given in the Province of Cavite the 1st day of August, of the year of our Lord 1898, and the first year of Philippine independence.
Follow the signatures of the local Presidents of the Provinces of
Cavite and many others.
The undersigned, Secretary of the Interior, certifies, That the present document is a literal copy of the original, which is deposited in the Secretaryship under his charge; in proof of which he signs it, with the approval of the President of the Revolutionary Government in Bacoor, the 6th day of August, 1898.
El Presidente del G. R., Emilio Aguinaldo. El Secretano del Interior, Leandro Ibarra.
Letter from Senor Aguinaldo to General Anderson.
July 23d, 1898.
To Brigadier-General T. M. Anderson, U. S. A., etc., etc., Cavite.
In answer to the letter of your Excellency dated the 22nd of the present month, I have the honor to manifest to you the following:
That even supposing that the effects existing in the storehouse of Don Antonio Osorio were subject to capture, when I established myself in the plaza (town) of Cavite, Admiral Dewey authorized me to dispose of everything that I might find in the same, including the arms which the Spanish left in the arsenal. But as he was aware that said effects belonged to the personal property (ownership) of a Filipino, who traded with them by virtue of a contribution to the Spanish Government, I would not have touched them had not the owner placed them at my disposition for the purposes of the war.