Good Lord why would we ever want to let the law get in the way? </sarcasm>
MOST of the terms in the Constitution are not defined IN the constitution. The Specific CONCEPT of the term “Natural Born Citizen” is attributed to Emerich Vattel.
And where does the Constitution state that Vattel's is the definition? As opposed to Blackstone? Or someone else?
You might not be aware of this, but his book, “Law of Nations” was well known by Franklin, Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Madison, John Jay, and all the delegates at the Constitutional Convention....It was even CITED in the records of the Convention.
As was Blackstone. And others.
It was more or less used as a blueprint for the entire U.S. Constitution.
And that is pure nonsense.
By the way, I’ve got cites for everything I just said. Try me. :)
Knock yourself out.
“MOST of the terms in the Constitution are not defined IN the constitution. The Specific CONCEPT of the term “Natural Born Citizen” is attributed to Emerich Vattel.
And where does the Constitution state that Vattel’s is the definition? As opposed to Blackstone? Or someone else? “
Why does it need to state such? It is implicit in the doctrines which were adopted. They were certainly alien to English law. English Law would have maintained the Nobility and the official Clergy. We jettisoned much of that crap.
Your argument is that they did not define specific terms in common usage among the delegates at that time, so therefore we cannot POSSIBLY fathom what they were getting at with such obscure terms as “Freedom of Speech,” “Right to Keep and Bear Arms”,”We the People”, and “Natural Born Citizen.”
Even after many of them individual said, and reinforced the point collectively with an act of the first congress, still their meaning and intent escapes you!
At this point, if a document was found containing all the signatures of all the delegates to the convention, alongside the signatures of every ratifying legislature of all 13 colonies, attesting to their intent to prevent foreign influence in the office of the Presidency, you would no doubt still ask, “I wonder what they mean? “
Read the Federalist papers. This issue is discussed in there as well. I would excerpt them for you, but I’m suspecting it would be a waste of my time. Not yours, of course. You might actually get some knowledge on you.
“Knock yourself out. “
From the conversation so far, I think it might be the equivalence of casting pearls before swine. I’m beginning to think that talking to you is like teaching a pig to dance. I’m wasting a lot of time, and I’m annoying the pig.
I might do it later for amusement. Right now I have to go Responsibilitys call.