During debate on a 14th amendment, Republican (nationalist) Senator Jacob M. Howard, of Michigan, proposes the addition of clause 1 (“All persons born or naturalized in the United States … are citizens of the United States … “).  Merritt insists this clause should not be misconstrued to make citizens of those born in the united States, who are the children of foreign nationals:

       This will not, of course, include persons born in the [u]nited States who are foreigners, aliens, who belong to the families of ambassadors or foreign ministers accredited to the [g]overnment of the [u]nited States, but will include every other class of persons.

       [restored 4/24/2022]