>> “Were they citizens by birth, or by naturalization?” <<
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Neither. They were citizens by the evolution of circumstance when the constitution was ratified.
“They were citizens by the evolution of circumstance when the constitution was ratified.”
Really? The courts have repeatedly said that citizens are either born or naturalized. But you won’t have any trouble, I’m sure, citing a case where the courts discuss evolutionary citizenship, and how it evolved.
If they were grandfathering in NB Subjects, why did they use the generic “citizen”? Hmmm???