[rolling_stone]

You cannot change the Constitution with a statute. 1790 is just like the resolution saying McCain was eligible, and that is worthless.

[allmendream]

Indeed you cannot - but Congress has the power given by the Constitution to form universal laws of naturalization - those that are natural born are not required to be naturalized.

But all Constitutional issues aside - whether the law is Constitutionally correct or not is immaterial to the fact that it shows the understanding of the term during the time of our founding most certainly did NOT entail born of citizen parents in the USA if one citizen parent (father) and being born overseas was acceptable criteria to be deemed a natural born citizen - and thus with no need to be naturalized and eligible for the Presidency.