From the Journals of Congress 1787
a trade agreement between the US and France, with the agreement shown in both English and French. Within it, “naturels” is translated as “natural born”. In this case refering to subjects/sujets.
In French.
“ARTICLE III Les consuls et vice consuls respectifs ne pourront être pris que parmi les sujets naturels de la puissance qui les nommera.”
And in English
“The respective Consuls and Vice Consuls shall only be taken from among the natural born subjects of the power nominating them.”
And there you have it. Naturels was understood as “Natural Born”. Thus the later translation better reflects what the founders, many of whom were quite literate in French, would have understood.
Les citoyens sont les membres de la societe civile : lies a cette societe par certains devoirs et soumis a son autorite, ils participent avec egalite a ses avantages.
Les naturels, ou indigenes, sont ceux qui sont nes dans le pays, de parens citoyens. becomes in English, as understood by the founding generations:
The citizens are the members of the civil society; bound to this society by certain duties, and subject to its authority, they equally participate in its advantages.
The natives, or natural-born citizens, are those born in the country, of parents who are citizens.