[sometime lurker]

It doesn't mean the opposite of anything. The part about the court being committed to the view that NBCs are excluded from the citizen clause of the 14th amendment stands alone.

• You posted "Gray affirmed" the Supreme Court was committed to the view.
• The full quote says the justices were NOT committed to the view.

That's an opposite where I was taught reading, and the part you omitted is NOT an independent clause, or it would stand completely alone.

Your view of Minor vs. Happersett is flawed. The Court does not define NBC, but rather one aspect of it as applicable to Virginia Minor, and says

As to this class there have been doubts, but never as to the first. For the purposes of this case it is not necessary to solve these doubts.

Got it? The court did not resolve these doubts since they were irrelevant to the case. So no, the case did not define NBC.

[edge919]

You posted "Gray affirmed" the Supreme Court was committed to the view.

And they were. What part of UNANIMOUS DECISION do you NOT understand?? Do you think it was NOT a unanimous decision in Minor??