- Senator Howard, author of the citizenship clause: "This will not, of course, include persons born in the United States who are foreigners, aliens, who belong to the families of ambassadors or foreign ministers
- Representative John Bingham, author of the 14th Amendment: "The citizenship clause' is consistent with the Constitution that states, every human being born within the jurisdiction of the United States of parents not owing allegiance to any foreign sovereignty is, in the language of your Constitution itself, a natural born citizen...".
- Senator Lyman Trumbull, author of the 13th Amendment who inserted the citizenship clause into the 14th Amendment: "The provision is, that 'all persons born in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens.' That means 'subject to the complete jurisdiction thereof.' What do we mean by 'complete jurisdiction thereof?' Not owing allegiance to anybody else. That is what it means".
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