AND WHEREAS the said Convention has been duly ratified on both parts, and the ratifications of the two Governments were exchanged in the City of Washington on the eleventh day of April, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine: Now, therefore, be it known that I, William McKinley, President of the United States of America, have caused the said convention to be made public, to the end that the same and every article and clause thereof may be observed and fulfilled with good faith by the United States and the citizens thereof. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the City of Washington this eleventh day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine, and of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and twenty-third. By the President: JOHN HAY, Secretary of State. WILLIAM MCKINLEY. MESSAGE HIS EXCELLENCY MANUEL L. QUEZON PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES TO THE FIRST NATIONAL ASSEMBLY Delivered November 25, 1935, at its Inaugural Session, in the National Assembly Hall Legislative Building MR. SPEAKER, GENTLEMEN OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY: As I appear before you for the first time, allow me to extend to you my cordial greetings and congratulations upon your election to this august body. It is your unique privilege to serve our country at the most critical period of its existence--at a time when the course of its destiny will be charted. The framers of our Constitution conferred upon our government all the power and authority needed to meet the demands of a progressive and enlightened epoch so that it may be able to promote the welfare and happiness of our people and safeguard their liberty. I know you are well aware of the share of responsibility in the task of government which belongs to you. Unlike the Legislature that preceded you, which had two Houses, this National Assembly is by itself the whole Legislative Department of the government. When you take final action on a measure, there is no other legislative branch that will pass upon and give it further consideration. The measure as you pass it goes directly to the Chief Executive, who is devoid of any power to alter it in any way and has no alternative except that of giving it his express or implied approval, or of vetoing it. In my opinion, the main responsibility for legislative action is yours. It will be my policy as Chief Executive to give you, in every case, the benefit of doubt. You may therefore rest assured that, if ever, I shall exercise my veto power with reluctance, and only when I am strongly convinced that it is my plain and unavoidable duty to do so in the interest of the common weal. Article VII, section 11, (5) of the Constitution directs the President to present to the National Assembly, from time to time, information on the state of the Nation, and to recommend to its consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient. In the fulfillment of this duty, I am addressing the National Assembly today on the fundamental responsibility of a state-on a question involving |