No, I didn't change the meaning. That's just idiotic.
Flat-out idiotic.
And once again, it illustrates how far people like you will go to twist and misrepresent the meaning of ANYTHING in history or law that YOU DON'T PERSONALLY LIKE.
The meaning is clear enough to anybody with one eye and half sense who doesn't have a stupid birther axe to grind.
Do you not understand the meaning of the word "AND?"
Or are you so bent on your silly little false theory that you're willing to try to twist and misrepresent the meaning even of that simple word?
That law in relevant part:
Be it enacted by the General Assembly,
that all white persons born within the territory of this commonwealth
and all who have resided therein two years next before the passing of this act,
and all who shall hereafter migrate into the same; and shall before any court of record give satisfactory proof by their own oath or affirmation, that they intend to reside therein, and moreover shall give assurance of fidelity to the commonwealth;
and all infants wheresoever born, whose father, if living, or otherwise, whose mother was, a citizen at the time of their birth, or who migrate hither, their father, if living, or otherwise their mother becoming a citizen, or who migrate hither without father or mother,
shall be deemed citizens of this commonwealth, until they relinquish that character in manner as herein after expressed:
And all others not being citizens of any the United States of America, shall be deemed aliens.
Seriously, that is the most blatantly idiotic thing I have ever seen you post.
It even comes close to the most idiotic thing I've ever seen ANYONE post.
And do you not understand the meaning of "ALL?" As in ALL WHITE PERSONS BORN WITHIN THE TERRITORY OF THIS COMMONWEALTH?
Do you not understand that every one of the above categories were named as CITIZENS?
Or are you just being deliberately obtuse?
The easiest way to look at Virginia’s citizenship laws is to compare them.
1779:
“Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that all white persons born within the territory of this commonwealth and all who have resided therein two years next before the passing of this act, and all who shall hereafter migrate into the same; and shall before any court of record give satisfactory proof by their own oath or affirmation, that they intend to reside therein, and moreover shall give assurance of fidelity to the commonwealth; and all infants wheresoever born, whose father, if living, or otherwise, whose mother was, a citizen at the time of their birth, or who migrate hither, their father, if living, or otherwise their mother becoming a citizen, or who migrate hither without father or mother, shall be deemed citizens of this commonwealth, until they relinquish that character in manner as herein after expressed”
1783
“Be it therefore enacted by the General Assembly, That all free persons, born within the territory of this Commonwealth; all persons, not being natives, who have obtained a right to citizenship under the Act, intituled, “ An Act declaring who shall be deemed citizens of this Commonwealth;” and also all children, wheresoever born, whose fathers or mothers are or were citizens at the time of the birth of such children, shall be deemed citizens of this Commonwealth, until they relinquish that character in manner herein after mentioned.”
1792
“Be it enacted by the General Assembly, That all free persons born within the territory of this Commonwealth, all persons not being natives, who have obtained a right to citizenship under former laws, and all children wheresoever born, whose fathers or mothers are or were citizens at the time of the birth of such children, shall be deemed citizens of this Commonwealth, until they relinquish that character in the manner hereinafter mentioned.”
It clearly separates the different types of citizens into
1) Born in Virginia.
2) Immigrated into Virginia.
3) Born outside Virginia to Virginia citizen parents.
Because the 1779 law was making a change to the existing situation, they had to make the extra provision or grandfather clause for those not born in Virginia but who had resided “therein two years next before the passing of this act.”
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that all white persons born within the territory of this commonwealth and all who have resided therein two years next before the passing of this act, and all who shall hereafter migrate into the same;and shall before any court of record give satisfactory proof by their own oath or affirmation, that they intend to reside therein, and moreover shall give assurance of fidelity to the commonwealth;
and all infants wheresoever born, whose father, if living, or otherwise, whose mother was, a citizen at the time of their birth, or who migrate hither, their father, if living, or otherwise their mother becoming a citizen, or who migrate hither without father or mother, shall be deemed citizens of this commonwealth, until they relinquish that character in manner as herein after expressed:
And all others not being citizens of any the United States of America, shall be deemed aliens.
It is a complex sentence.
Semicolons are being used as "super commas". There are several clauses separated by semicolons.
The first clause specifies the general case.
The second clause modifies the first clause by imposing conditions on it.
The third clause specifies a specific case.
The fourth clause specifies a specific case.
The specific terms of a statute override the general terms.
The specific terms of the third clause override the general terms of the first clause. Hence, the citizenship of the minor child follows that of the parents.
The Virginia statute: http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/a4_2_1s4.html