[Citizen Blade]

Interesting discussion. You’ve got me curious- I’ll take a look at Blackstone’s commentaries.

[bvw]

Blackstone's language is difficult for a reader today. You can also read the poster "Judah Benjamin" on Texas Darlin blog, who has written on the subject. Why did John Jay suggest that the Presidency required an extra special form of citizenship -- to be "natural born"? Clearly that was some background on the matter between he and George Washington, was it unrecorded conversations or just the common understanding of the term in those days?

Blackstone's concepts on the matter also are referenced to "The King", and kingship which is a concept the founders threw off completely in the charter -- foremost was Washington in that regard, for otherwise he would have been king. So some intellectual remapping of terms and concepts in Blackstone must occur in order to apply his ideas to America. It's not perfectly straightforward remapping either. Judgment calls all the way forward.