The definition of NBC was understood by the founders, it didn’t need to be explained. As the constitution was being written, issues surrounding who could serve as our head of state, and what that would be were hotly debated. The one requirement they all wanted was that our leader only have allegiance to the new fledgling united states. I wish I could read french, but as a product of the US education system, I’m lucky to be able to read english. When writing the constitution the founders including GW leaned heavily on the Law of Nations by Vattel 1758. In fact it was only last year that the NY public library forgave GW a late book fine of over 300K for three outstanding books one of which was an english translation of Vattel’s seminal work.
In the Law of Nations, citizenship was clearly defined as flowing from the bloodline of the father, where one was born was not relevant. To be native born, however was to be born on one’s home soil of parents who owed no other sovereign their allegiance, by renouncing any other citizenship and being a citizen of their chosen sovereign.
You cant find a single member of the Constitutional Convention who agrees with you.
NOT ONE!
Madison said clearly that the location of birth was the most important issue:
“It is an established maxim, received by all political writers that every person owes a natural allegiance to the government of that country in which he is born. Allegiance is defined to be a tie, that binds the subject to the state, and in consequence of his obedience, he is entitled to protection… The children of aliens, born in this state, are considered as natural born subjects, and have the same rights with the rest of the citizens.”
Zephaniah Swift, A system of the laws of the state of Connecticut: in six books, Volumes 1-2 of A System of the Laws of the State of Connecticut: pg. 163,167 (1795)
http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/a1_2_2s6.html
The following is an enormous list of legal citations, from Obama operatives, but you need to know what you are up against:
http://nativeborncitizen.wordpress.com/natural-born-quotes/
James Madison, The Founders’ Constitution Volume 2, Article 1, Section 2, Clause 2,
Madison:
It is an established maxim that birth is a criterion of allegiance. Birth however derives its force sometimes from place and sometimes from parentage, but in general place is the most certain criterion; it is what applies in the United States; it will therefore be unnecessary to investigate any other.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/79655719/James-Madison-on-Contested-Election-Citizenship-And-Birthright-22-May-1789-House-of-Representatives