[DiogenesLamp]

It would seem to imply the opposite - that the Congressman acknowledged they had "privileges of natural-born citizens" but wanted to remove those privileges by statute.

Your own sentence makes my point. That they HAD removable "privileges" indicates they are different from "natural citizens" because a "natural citizen's" privileges are not removable.

[sometime lurker]

"It would seem to imply the opposite - that the Congressman acknowledged they had "privileges of natural-born citizens" but wanted to remove those privileges by statute."

Your own sentence makes my point. That they HAD removable "privileges" indicates they are different from "natural citizens" because a "natural citizen's" privileges are not removable.

No, the privileges were not removable - which is why such attempts were voted down in Congress. Misguided congressmen are forever coming up with unconstitutional legislation - fortunately much of it dies a quick death.