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To: Ray76
The first clause specifies the general case.
The second clause modifies the first clause by imposing conditions on it.

If so, does that mean that the second clause (about oaths and assurances of fidelity) is a condition imposed on white person born within the commonwealth? If not, I don't think you can simply divide the sentence up the way you have--there's no comma or semicolon or anything else separating the "born within" group from the "resided therein two years" group. If the condition applies to the second group but not the first, as common sense suggests, then the semicolons aren't doing the job you claim.

The fourth clause specifies a specific case.

So you're claiming that "all infants wheresoever born" overrides "all white persons born"? Unless you know of a way for someone to be born and not be an infant, what's the first phrase doing there at all, if it's only going to be overridden later in the same sentence?

350 posted on 04/04/2013 11:56:23 AM PDT by Ha Ha Thats Very Logical
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To: Ha Ha Thats Very Logical
does that mean that the second clause (about oaths and assurances of fidelity) is a condition imposed on white person born within the commonwealth?

Who else would it apply to, the infant?

what's the first phrase doing there at all, if it's only going to be overridden later in the same sentence?

Adults born in the colony


It's basic english as well as a rule of construction.

351 posted on 04/04/2013 12:16:32 PM PDT by Ray76 (Do you reject Obama? And all his works? And all his empty promises?)
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