What’s interesting is that in the 1790 Act, they codified a definition of a Natural Born Citizen.
And since it would be unconstitutional to change by statute the definition of a Natural Born Citizen, then weren’t they simply reiterating the definition as believed by the Founders?
Starting page 8 is a review of the situation by someone who was INS Chief COunsel - not sure if he held the title at that time.
http://digitalcommons.law.umaryland.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2068&context=mlr
All one can do is make a reasoned argument and come to a conclusion. That conclusion doesn’t mean it was the reality.
I don’t know the answer. All I want to do is be fair to the analysis with the knowledge that James Madison is the one that took out the definition.