According to James Madison the delegates referenced Blackstone’s Commentaries to resolve questions on legal terms and concepts such as “ex post facto laws”.
Of course they referenced Blackstone. His “An analyses of the Laws of England,” published in 1756 was referred to. BUT contrary to general belief, Vattel’s “The Law of Nations” published in 1758, was looked to as the authority on International Law and his explanation of Natural Born was the only one considered by the Constitutional Committee. Those who refer to Blackstone are in error unless one wishes to disregard George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, and many others.
Vattel is also heard in the Declaration of independence in the words “....and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them,”....................
THE LAW OF NATIONS
PRINCIPLES OF THE LAW OF NATURE APPLIED TO THE CONDUCT AND AFFAIRS OF NATIONS AND SOVEREIGNS
FROM THE FRENCH OF
MONSIEUR DE VATTEL.