Posted on 10/22/2023 11:18:56 PM PDT by CDR Kerchner
Whether he was born in Canada or Vermont, the controversy over Chester Arthur’s NBC status birth should instead center around his father’s citizenship which I believe was not granted until 1843, fifteen years after his son Arthur’s birth in 1829.
Not this chit again.
That is one murky nest of weeds.
While Chester’s father, Reverend William Arthur, was foreign born, he had immigrated to the United States from northern Ireland when he was 18 and had become a Baptist minister. Chester’s mother, Malvina Stone Arthur, was born in New Hampshire. The Arthurs had four daughters when Chester was born. When the family was complete, Chester had a brother and another sister.
I did not find any material on when/if Rev William Arthur became an American citizen. By 1822 the family had settled in Vermont, his parents having met in Quebec. Chester was born in 1829. The “born in Canada” rumor spread by an enemy, Arthur P. Hinman, was debunked. Arthur P. Hinman actually spread two sets of rumors, one that Arthur was born in Ireland & emigrated to the US at age 14, the second the rumor that Arthur was born in Quebec. Both allegations were resoundingly disproven. I do not see that his father’s citizenship was raised as an issue. It certainly would have been if it could have aided Chester’s enemy’s claims.
In the early 1800’s a potential citizen could go to any court of record after two years residency in the U.S. and file a declaration of intent to become a citizen. Then after three more years the immigrant could seek naturalization papers to complete the process. There was certainly enough time for that process before Chester’s birth.
Of course he’s not eligible and neither is Nicki Haley or Camel Toe Harris.
Yep, this subject of natural born citizenship is back.
This subject comes up regularly on Free Republic.
Some Freepers say, that both of your parents must have been American citizens at the time of your birth, for you to be a natural born citizen.
Other Freepers say, that as long as you yourself were born in America, that makes you a natural born citizen, regardless of your parents citizenship or immigration status.
And then still other Freepers will say that this ship has sailed with Obama and Kamala, and realistically, there is no controlling legal authority, to prevent any American born American citizen from running for president.
And then some Freepers say that there has never been a definitive court case to define what Natural Born Citizen even means. So there’s that.
Some recent threads on this subject have had hundreds of replies, with Freepers on either side of the debate, presenting evidence and arguing back and forth.
All because we let Obama get away with it, now ANYONE can be president.
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Arthur-57
It is a bit unfortunate but I don’t believe naturalization status was a census question until 1920.
The media will carry our water for us on this one whether it is taken to court or not.
” The birthplace concept is something from a different era in which people were subjects to kings. I’d trust some foreign-born legal immigrants more than I trust some American-born citizens whose ancestors came over on the Mayflower.”
So you believe in a ‘living constitution’? When did you get here?
That is exactly what I said.
I repeat...
Biden, Schumer, AOC, pelosi are all NBC with only USA citizenship. BUT I trust them less than some one with triple citizenship if he/she loves United States of America.
AMEN!
You are exactly CORRECT!
This will not be settled until SCOTUS decides. And then only until that case is overturned.
It is CLEAR, that Vattel’s definition of “natural born citizen” was what the framers/founders understood to be the meaning of the term.
BOOK I.
LAW OF NATIONS
§ 212. Citizens and natives.
“The natives, or natural-born citizens,
are those born in the country, of parents who are citizens.”
Very concise! Born IN THE COUNTRY of parentS (BOTH) who are citizens.
Yup. The courts are incompetent. Not just on this, but on many other issues as well.
They are simply a repository of petty tyrants who do not really care about law or justice.
Re: 49 - “May you someday be blessed with such discernment.”
Discernment is in short supply for some posters. I chalk it up to either ignorance, willful ignorance, or low intellect.
Definitely NOT me. The examples I’ve seen of Obama AND our current laughing hyena VP are enough to queer that notion.
Totally agree.
Yes, the courts are very incompetent on this issue. They are also incompetent on many other issues. Anyone who has confidence in the courts has their confidence misplaced.
Our courts are silly.
Anchor Baby.
Why don't you post what the people actually involved in the constitution had to say on the issue?
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